CATTISTOCK 337-5 (19pts) beat CERNE VALLEY 258-9 (7pyts) by 79 runs

A STUNNING unbeaten 149 from Liam Toohill and Ollie Legg’s 6-51, including a hat-trick, helped Cattistock maintain their winning start with a 79-run success over local rivals Cerne Abbas.

Put into bat, Cattistock got off to the worst start when Billy Walbridge (0) was caught behind off the bowling of Pearce Mercer (3-58) in the first over.

Jason Bradley (15) and Jon Legg (15) made starts but failed to kick on and the home side were 56-3.

However, Steve Tucker (61) and Toohill put together a sublime partnership of 138 for the fourth wicket. Tucker continued his fine hitting form from the previous season and cruised to his fifty before being caught in the deep.

Toohill regularly found the boundary, crunching a staggering 21 fours and two sixes, and with Cattistock veteran Ben Golledge (34no) the pair took the total to 337-5 from 45 overs.

Toohill carried his bat for his maiden century for the club, the innings comprising of 116 balls and was received by a standing ovation from a large crowd gathered under the trees at the Kennel Ground.

Asked to chase down a large total, Cerne’s reply got off to a bad start at 35-2 when captain Bradley Damen (2-43) removed Craig Kellaway (3) and Russ Hurford (10) in quick succession.

George Chubb (33) and Simon Green (84) put together an aggressive partnership, with Green hitting three towering sixes.

However, Green’s departure sparked a collapse.

Ollie Legg removed Chubb with a smart catch from Bradley at backward point, then what followed sealed the visitors’ fate.

The impressive Green was caught in the deep and the next four batsman failed to trouble the scorers as Legg claimed four wickets in four balls, finishing with impressive figures of 6-51 and his first hat-trick for the club.

Cerne offered some stubborn resistance for the last wicket, with Joe Message (28) batting well and carrying his bat to deny Cattistock the full 20 points.

After the match, Damen said: “It was great to get our second win on the bounce, Liam played really well and has been in fine form this season. He’s worked really hard at training and it’s certainly paying off.

“Liam’s partnership with Steve just took the game away from Cerne, and our bowlers stuck to their tasks despite Simon’s innings in the middle. On another day Ollie’s hat-trick would get the headlines, so to have two star performances was a real treat for us and the supporters.”