West are best (From Dorset Echo)

West are best

8:52am Wednesday 17th March 2010 in

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WEST Dorset, featuring players from Dorchester, Martinstown and Cerne Abbas, were crowned champions of this year’s annual district under-14 six-a-side indoor cricket tournament at Hurn.

They defeated select teams from the north, south and east but didn’t clinch their success until the final over of the final match.

Pearce Mercer struck the deciding runs in the last over of their match against previously-undefeated East, but the rest of the team – Marcus Evans, Taylor Quinton, Adam Barrett, Dan Evans and Sam Roles – also made terrific contributions.

Simon Roles, the district’s under-14 coach, said: “These lads play intelligent and skilful cricket but it was their ability to stick together as a team when under pressure that won the day”

M Evans (36), Quinton (27) and Barrett (21) helped put on 167-3 in their match against South, who challenged the total until their final over.

However, sharp fielding and controlled bowling from West secured victory with one ball to go.

An experimental team from the North proved to be a slightly easier test as West reduced them to 87 all out, thanks to inspired fielding – including two direct hits – from Barrett.

The final and deciding match against the undefeated East provided a fitting finale to the day.

East batted first and seemed to have pressed the self-destruct button with three consecutive run outs, but Adams (57) and Jones (49) steadied the ship, taking their team to a very creditable 151 all out.

Once again, West’s bowling and fielding was tight with M Evans, Roles and Quinton all putting in good spells and Mercer making a vital run out.

M Evans (25) and Barrett (30) opened the innings for West with intelligence and power and were succeeded by an equally-talented middle order of Quinton (19), D Evans (22) and Roles (26).

But it was left to the powerful Mercer to hit the winning run in the last over to win the tournament.