STALBRIDGE II 87 (2pts) lost to WEYMOUTH 88-5 (18pts) by five wickets

WEYMOUTH maintained their assault for the County Division Two title with a relatively simple five-wicket win at 10-man Stalbridge Seconds for their sixth successive triumph.

After being skittled for 87, the county’s only winless side put up a good fight with the ball, dismissing five Seasiders batsmen to prevent the visitors from claiming maximum points.

A 20-point haul initially looked probable for Weymouth, who were asked to field after losing the toss.

Opening seamer Lloyd Beals (2-14) bowled with excellent control and good pace, dismissing Jason Forsey (1) and captain Eddie Stevens (0) in the same over as the hosts fell to 18-2.

Clean hitting from Neil Ford (17) was halted when Sami Rathnayake (1-27) castled the powerful opener, but Stalbridge’s Tom Perkins (16) and Tom Waggett responded with a quick 35-run stand.

Waggett (25) then fell to Neil Walton (3-7), who also bowled Jamie Anderson-Deas (1) as the hosts were reduced to 64-5.

With only the obdurate Kevin Forsey (12) reaching double figures thereafter, Weymouth had little trouble in removing Stalbridge’s tail.

Chasing just 88, Perkins then accounted for openers Paul Collins and Simon Browne (both 8).

Anderson-Deas (1-25) tempted Dom Webb (13) into a lofted shot before Waggett (2-18) ousted both Jack Taylor (0) and Beals (5) as Weymouth stumbled to 69-5.

But skipper Harry Mitchell (37no) produced a typically determined knock to guide his side home.

Speaking to Echosport after the win, Mitchell conceded the Seasiders had been below par during the contest.

He said: “We weren’t near our best. It was one of our better performances with the ball but the batting was a bit under-par, which was a bit unlike us.

“Normally it’s the spinners, this week it was the seamers showing their class.

“I thought that was the best Neil’s bowled this year, Lloyd again bowled well, Sami bowled with good pace at times and GP (Graham Puckett) varied it well. It was a good day for the seamers.”

Mitchell expressed his frustration at dropping points, but Weymouth move into second after rivals Marnhull could only take 16 points from their two-wicket win over Witchampton.

He added: “I know you’ve got to be ruthless but going into a crucial stage to drop points is a bit disappointing.

“Apart from the bowlers bowling well, nobody really stood out with the bat. It was a professional performance apart from losing wickets.”

Elsewhere, Weymouth Seconds 73-3 (2pts) lost to Bradford Abbas 294-4 (16pts) by 221 runs in a rain-affected clash.

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