HAMWORTHY RECREATION 249-9 (18pts) beat WEYMOUTH 245-7 (12pts) by one wicket

WEYMOUTH sustained a cruel loss with one ball remaining at Hamworthy Recreation in their County Division One clash at the Hamworthy club.

Harry Mitchell’s Seasiders won the toss and elected to bat first on a superb batting surface which eventually yielded 494 runs.

And Weymouth capitalised in the early stages, racing to 49-0 off 10 until Dom Webb (11) lofted a catch to mid-off with the score on 67.

John Wilson (50) galloped to an attacking half-century featuring seven boundaries and two sixes but fell soon afterwards, home captain Sean Mulley (2-32) claiming both openers.

Matt Lawes (28) and Simon Browne (25) added useful contributions before perishing, moving the total on to 184-4.

James Almond (53) then struck his first 50 of the season alongside Tim Guyett (24), while a meaty 46 extras helped Weymouth post a target of 246.

Matt Lawes (3-30) bowled a hostile opening spell in Hamworthy’s reply, finding the edge of Mulley (0) with his second ball.

When Graham Puckett (2-40) accounted for Alex Peel (4) and Jack Satterley (0) in quick succession, Weymouth were well-placed at 28-3.

However, the hosts had other ideas as Grant Cormack (74no off 53 balls) bludgeoned his side to victory with some brutal hitting as the Hamworthy number six smeared five sixes and seven fours.

Harry Poole (55) shared 108 with Jack Hector (60) for the fourth wicket before Shafeek Urumancheri (3-44) reduced the home side to 156-7.

Cormack then took over with some gigantic hitting but Lawes’ fierce pace bowled tailenders Will Robinson (15) and Nathan Peters (8) to set up an electrifying finale.

With all three results possible, Cormack nervelessly struck a six into the clubhouse off Urumancheri to seal victory off the penultimate delivery.

Speaking to Echosport, Mitchell admitted Weymouth dropped their level in the middle overs.

He said: “I didn’t think they were going to make it. Two of their blokes got 50s that shouldn’t have, we dropped a couple of chances and we weren’t on it in the middle overs – it’s not ideal.

“Cormack went absolutely berserk, it was an incredible knock – he won’t do that again.

“But Lawesy up top was the quickest spell of bowling I’ve ever seen, it was around their face, nose (Mulley) nicked the second ball and couldn’t move his bat out of the way quick enough.

“Shaf bowled decent but the rest of us weren’t quite on our game.”

Meanwhile, Weymouth Seconds remain at the summit of County Division Six after bowling Cheselbourne out for 87 to record a nine-wicket victory.

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