MARNHULL 213-8 (19pts) beat WEYMOUTH 212-9 (9pts) by two wickets

WEYMOUTH slid to their third consecutive County Division One defeat as Marnhull recorded a much-needed two-wicket victory.

The Seasiders remain in fourth while relegation-threatened Marnhull have closed the gap on eighth-placed Cerne Valley to seven points.

Spectators, however, will not have recognised a five-place gap between the teams, who were locked in a contest that ebbed and flowed throughout.

With heavy rain on Friday, the toss seemed crucial on a pitch that appeared damp in places.

Weymouth skipper Harry Mitchell duly won the call and invited Marnhull to field, the hosts making a quick breakthrough as John Wilson (1) slashed a short and wide delivery to first slip off Cameron Cudlipp (3-31).

Dom Webb (13) and Matt Lawes (21) rebuilt until both men were out caught, Webb nicking Edwin Ralph (2-36) behind and Lawes mistiming a pull shot off Zack Caunt (2-50).

At 60-3, Weymouth were finding the going difficult but James Almond (22) accelerated with four boundaries until he was clean bowled by Caunt after attempting a big hit over long on.

Neil Walton (13) and Paul Collins (10) soon followed as the Seasiders stumbled to 118-6.

However, a superb rearguard innings from Jack Sapsworth (20), supported by the big-hitting Tim Guyett (30) plus Shafeek Urumancheri (18) added late runs as Weymouth claimed full batting points.

Marnhull, who conceded 47 extras, set about chasing their target of 213 with attacking intent as Tim Horn (18) hit two boundaries before James Hardy (0) perished off Lawes (1-38).

Walton (2-37) removed Horn and trapped Josh Mackay (5) lbw before catching the dangerous Ashley Young (10) at fine leg as Graham Puckett (1-31) struck.

Guyett (1-19) forced Joseph Ralph (8) into edging to slip as Weymouth sensed victory in reducing their opponents to 73-5.

But despite holding their early catches they were again victims of their own generosity in the field as a sparkling century from opposite captain Paul Woodrow (110no), who was twice dropped, took the game away from the visitors.

Woodrow’s fierce hitting included 12 well-struck boundaries and six maximums, the captain holding his nerve amid falling wickets and fine bowling from Urumancheri (2-18) as Weymouth were edged out.

Speaking to Echosport, Mitchell again blamed poor concentration and dropped chances in defeat.

He said: “It’s focus that’s letting us down in the middle overs, we dropped two catches and that would have won us the game.

“To be fair (Woodrow) was really switched on, he wanted it more than anyone on the day.

“The way he struck the ball was amazing.

“He took the responsibility to win the game by himself, picked on the right bowling at the right time and took risks when he needed to. It was an unbelievable knock, you can’t take that away from him.”

On Weymouth’s batting, Mitchell drew some positives, adding: “The middle and lower order really did chip in – that’s one of our big strengths as a team.

“Sappy had a good knock, sent in above me and Tim, he let us bat around him and score runs quicker so he played well.

“And James behind the stumps for the first time in years, he was really sharp and batted well, Shaf bowled well coming in at a difficult time, so there were a lot of positives.”