CERNE VALLEY 227-8 (7pts) lost to CATTISTOCK 231-4 (19pts) by six wickets

CATTISTOCK took a fantastic victory chasing down 227 with 10 overs to spare in County Division One.

Cattistock lost the toss and were asked to field first, with overhead conditions favourable for swing bowling and the away side looking to make early inroads.

Bradley Damen (2-27) picked up the early wicket of David Baney by knocking off his off bail in the third over.

First change bowler Sam Baker (2-47) picked up the wicket of the other opener George Chubb thanks to a Liam Toohll catch and then got the key wicket of Jim Ryall (52) who was batting superbly.

This sparked a flurry of wickets with captain Jon Legg (1-27) trapping Jamie Barrett lbw and Bradley Mullins (3-43) having the dangerous Si Green caught at long off.

Pearce Mercer came to the crease and cracked a fast half-century before he was well caught by Jon Legg off the bowling of the returning Damen.

Cerne Valley threw the bat at the ball and managed to surpass 200 in the closing overs, finishing on 227-8.

Martin Langford and Jon Legg got off to a good start in reply, with Langford striking a run a ball 30 before he was run out with the score on 60.

Ben Golledge followed him back to the pavilion without scoring which left the Foxes wobbling but still up with the rate as Toohill came in.

Legg brought up the 50 partnership but fell the ball after, caught and bowled for a fine 45.

This brought Steve Tucker to the crease and an injection of runs came quickly. He got off the mark with a huge six over long-on and then went on to hit 22 from one over including five successive fours.

Toohill (30) was run out with the score on 174 and Brandon Ward came out to stand.

Tucker sealed the victory in the 35th over, bringing an end to his remarkable innings that saw him score 90 runs from 38 balls including 11 fours and five sixes.

Legg said: “This was a great result over a strong Cerne team, we bowled superbly at the start of the innings but let them get away from us a little towards then end. Our run chase was well constructed, we built partnerships throughout and that gave the freedom for Steve to play his way.

“His ball striking was superb and quite rightly he deserves the praise but overall this was a real team effort. The bowlers worked hard to get the wickets and were backed up by the fielders holding onto some tough catches.”

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