CATTISTOCK 152-8 (19pts) bt HAMWORTHY RECREATION 149 (6pts) by 2 wickets

CATTISTOCK maintained their County Division One title push with a two-wicket home victory over Hamworthy.

The hosts won the toss and elected to bowl first.

Bradley Damen made an early breakthrough by clean bowling Steve Clifford, Toby Avery then counter attacked before being clean bowled by Sam Baker.

First-change bowlers Bradley Mullins and Liam Toohill were introduced as the dangerous Sean Mulley came to the crease.

Mulley struck two large sixes before Toohill had him smartly caught behind by Steve Tucker.

Toohill followed this up by clean bowling Harry Poole for no score which left the visitors on 84-4 at drinks.

Mullins struck next, another catch for Tucker bringing the dismissal of Matthew Avery.

Jacob Berry was still at the crease and looking dangerous as he launched Ollie Legg into the next field.

Legg had his revenge though as Berry chipped a catch up to Billy Wallbridge in the next over.

From here, the innings curtained quickly, runs came fast but so did wickets as Jon Legg picked up the final four wickets to wrap the innings up at 149.

The Cattistock reply started well despite the early dismissal of Wallbridge.

Jason Bradley found the boundary early on and with Jon Legg the score had risen to 44 by the point of Bradley’s dismissal.

Toohill came and went before Tucker put on a vital partnership of 51 with Legg.

Tucker was dismissed followed by Renier Fourie first ball and the Foxes wobbled slightly on 111-5, still 49 runs short of their target.

Cattistock stalwart Ben Golledge came to the crease and steadied the ship.

Legg fell for 33 and was followed by Baker and then Damen, which set up a tight finish with the league leaders on 139-8.

Mullins remained firm in defence and Golledge drove the ball for four behind square on the offside to secure the victory.

Captain Damen said: “We made a good start with the ball and managed to pick up regular wickets throughout.

“They are a dangerous batting side that keep coming at you so to restrict them to 149 was a great effort from all the lads.

“We made it a bit tighter than we should have with the bat.

“Jason got us off to a great start, Leggy batted well and was well supported by Steve.

Ben showed his experience in the closing stages of the run chase to make sure we got over the line.”