BROADSTONE II 22 (0pts) lost to WEYMOUTH 24-1 (20pts) by nine wickets

WEYMOUTH obliterated Broadstone Seconds by nine wickets, dismissing their hosts for 22, as the Seasiders’ bowlers ran riot in their County Division One contest at Delph Woods.

The fixture lasted just 71 minutes as Lloyd Beals (5-14) took a maiden five-wicket haul for the club, backed up by 4-8 from Neil Walton, plus an Andy Anderson run out.

James Almond (16no) then guided the visitors to their microscopic target in 4.4 overs.

A torrential shower had threatened to defy Weymouth pre-match, captain Harry Mitchell electing to field following heavy rain in midweek.

After the 37-minute rain delay, Weymouth soon dominated an under-strength Broadstone side.

Walton struck in the first over, nipping one away from home captain Richard Poole (0) and castling his off stump, before a superb sliding catch from Beals ousted the in-form Rob Wallis (2) off Walton.

Beals, with three, and Walton traded a further five wickets, the former trapping two players lbw as Broadstone lost seven wickets in the opening eight overs.

When Beals was unlucky to spill a difficult chance off his own bowling, Anderson was alert at mid-wicket to hurl at the vacant striker’s end for a run out after a horrible miscommunication.

That completed a gruesome spell from 11-1 to 16-8 before Beals claimed two wickets in two balls to wrap up the innings in just 12 overs.

In reply, Weymouth lost Paul Collins (1) leg before to Peter Thompson (1-7) but Almond was on hand to stroke four boundaries as the Seasiders claimed what will surely be their easiest triumph of the season.

Speaking to Echosport, Mitchell praised his opening bowlers after a lethal display.

He said: “It was an amazing bowling performance – we were really up for it and everything went for us.

“The two opening bowlers were outstanding, straight on it, no freebies with line and length.

“In the field, the pressure was good and there were no easy runs – it was the perfect fielding and bowling performance.”

On Beals’ five-for, Mitchell added: “He’s just more consistent now. It was probably a bedding in year, his first year.

“Now he knows his line and length, it’s down to his hard work in the nets. He’s there trying to be better so it’s a testament to himself and it was deserved.

“And for James to come in with that sort of performance with the bat, against the new ball, to hit a few comfortable boundaries was encouraging.”