WEYMOUTH 281-5 (17pts) beat BEAMINSTER 228-4 (7pts) by 53 runs

WEYMOUTH sensationally claimed promotion to County Division One on the final day of the season after handsomely defeating Beaminster by 53 runs at Redlands.

Coming into the fixture, Weymouth trailed third-placed Wimborne & Colehill Seconds by six points, but the Minstermen were defeated by eight runs against fellow promotion-chasers Witchampton, leaving the Seasiders with the final promotion place behind champions Marnhull.

Beaminster captain Ross Baker elected to bowl after winning the toss and his side initially restricted the hosts to 32-0 from the opening 10 overs.

From there, opening batsmen Paul Collins and Dom Webb punished the visitors with a powerful and controlled display, pushing Weymouth to 193-0 until Collins (83) slashed a loose cover drive to Will Moss off the bowling of Cameron Lucas (1-57).

But 18-year-old Webb (102) continued on and scored a faultless maiden century, including 12 fours and a six, as Weymouth posted 281-5 courtesy of 47 extras and 22 off 16 balls from Simon Browne.

On an excellent batting surface, Beaminster’s Ali Crawford (47) and Baker (55) also scored with ease, although the latter survived a catch behind due to a no-ball.

Shafeek Urumancheri (2-41) bowled tidily to bring his season’s tally to 27, cementing his status as the top wicket taker in the division.

And Sami Rathnayake (2-37) picked up two late wickets, including that of the fluent Simon Jones (57), as Weymouth finished the game in style.

Speaking to Echosport, delighted Weymouth captain Harry Mitchell felt it would have been an “injustice” for the Seasiders to miss out on promotion.

He said: “It was a great day, the best we’ve batted all year – everyone contributed. Dom scored his first ton and that’s a big milestone for him.

“He’s going to keep improving – he’s going to better himself. Going to uni he’s going to develop as a player.

“We had a good contribution from Paul. The level of difference in his batting is so impressive. It’s a shame he didn’t get his ton as well.”

On the promotion, he added: “I didn’t expect it at all, it was more to end the season on a high. Then, to find out two hours later you couldn’t have asked for a better day.

“To come out the other end being promoted is unbelievable, all the lads deserved it. It would have been an injustice not to go up.”

Meanwhile, Baker spoke of his pride in Beaminster’s chase, praising the application of his charges.

He said: “It was a competitive game. Weymouth put on an excellent target.

“That was always going to be tough to chase, but we didn’t just throw our wickets away – we applied ourselves and showed good spirit.”

CONTACT ME:

t: 01305 830990

e: neil.walton

@dorsetecho.co.uk

twitter: @EchoSportNeil