WEYMOUTH 219-8 (20pts) beat WIMBORNE & COLEHILL II 200 (12pts) by 20 runs

SKIPPER Simon Browne hailed the all-round performance of his charges during their win over Wimborne & Colehill seconds – despite admitting it was not the best of days for himself individually!

The Weymouth all-rounder, who so often chips in with vital runs and wickets for the side, was left scoring just seven with the bat and wicketless with the ball on the afternoon at Redlands, but was still delighted to see contributions from elsewhere land Weymouth their fourth league win of the campaign.

“It was generally a very good all-round team performance,” he told Echosport. “Everyone made a contribution, probably with the exception of me to be honest!

“I scored seven and decided to leave a straight one, bowled four overs of not anything special, dropped a dolly catch as well as they were starting to open up.

“It was one of those days that I won’t look back on with personal pride, but actually, in terms of what the players did, it was a great result and I am really chuffed.”

Batting first, Weymouth set a solid base at the top of the order, with Dean Janaway (52), Paul Payne (23) and Kieron Womble (32) all making solid contributions.

And, despite a middle order wobble, youngsters Dom Webb (18no) and Jack Sapsworth (21) ensured the Seasiders posted a competitive total of 219-8 from their 45 overs.

Browne added: “I think we were probably below par in terms of the runs we scored again.

“We were 146-2 with 17 overs left and I was batting with Kieron (Womble). I said ‘we should be looking at 250 here, minimum’. He then proceeded to get out and I decided to leave a straight one!

“But young Jack Sapsworth came in and batted very well and Dom Webb got 18, the youngsters did ever so well to get to 219.”

Spencer Naylor was the pick of the visitors’ attack, picking up 5-29 from his nine overs.

With the ball, Weymouth were made to stick at it as Ed Steele (66) and Graham Cole (44) looked to have turned the game in Wimborne’s favour with the score on 158-1.

But a flurry of wickets at crucial times for the hosts meant they restricted Wimborne to just 200 all out with a run-out coming off the final ball of the game to also earn them full bowling points.

Neil Walton recorded figures of 3-36 from eight overs with good control bowling at the death and young spinner harry Mitchell picked up 3-46 from nine overs.

“It looked like we were staring down the barrel of another defeat but, credit to the guys, we knuckled down, took some good wickets at good times, and took some good catches,” Browne added.

“Harry Mitchell bowled really well for his three wickets and Neil Walton bowled really well at the death as well.”

The result leaves the Seasiders fourth in County Division One with 97 points, trailing Cattistock, Christchurch and leaders Bere Regis.

Weymouth make the trip to seventh-placed Poole Town seconds on Saturday.