PUDDLETOWN 287-7 (20pts) beat DORCHESTER II 139 (5pts) by 148 runs

PUDDLETOWN emerged victorious by a whopping 148 runs in their County Division Three derby with Dorchester Seconds at Puddletown Rec.

Puddletown opted to bat first with buccaneering openers Lucas Allen (36) and Mike Hoffmann (16) quickly taking the team to a healthy 46-1, before Matt Porter (1-52) removed Hoffmann with a sumptuous away swinger.

Dave Morris (18) also made quick runs at three before holing out off Richard Jenkins (1-39).

But it was the introduction of helmsman Adam Barrett (51) and all-rounder Adam Weir, the latter following the dismissal of Allen for 36, that saw the momentum swing firmly towards Puddletown.

A fortuitous glove to backward square leg saw an end to Barrett’s well-navigated 51 but Weir continued to pillage runs with some lusty blows to the boundary, the highlight of which were three consecutive sixes from one Rohan Scott (2-59) over. Steve Chaldecott (11) also contributed late order runs which saw Puddletown post 287-7.

Weir, keen to avoid being marooned in the late 90s, ran himself out on a gallant 97.

Dorchester’s response began brightly with Ian Sibley and Josh Foot in confident mood as opening bowlers Dave Morris (1-18) and Tom Blair (2-24) failed to make the early breakthrough.

Resistance was broken however in the eighth over with the unerringly accurate Blair picking up Foot (15), who was caught behind. It was to be the first of five dismissals behind the stumps for Barrett, which included four catches and a stumping.

Morris capitalised on some excellent pace and bounce to pick up Sibley (12), and bring the pugnacious Porter to the crease.

Strong behind the bat on the off-side, Porter rebuffed some bodyline buffeting in a battling 38 that saw him drop anchor against anything on the stumps.

However, it was the introduction of spinner Alan Knight (3-24) which effectively saw the sinking of the Dorchester innings. Knight, bowling baffling leg-spin, picked up the wickets of both Porter and Scott (15) in quick succession.

Dorchester’s promising youngster Billy Baker kept plugging away for a brave 13 before Kieran Knight (1-13) wrapped up the innings in the 36th over.

Puddletown’s win cements their league position of second place, nine points behind rivals Shaftesbury at the summit.

Barrett’s men travel to Dorset Tigers on Saturday (1.30pm).

CONTACT ME:

t: 01305 830990

e: neil.walton

@dorsetecho.co.uk

twitter: @EchoSportNeil