SHILLINGSTONE 184-6 (7pts) lost to CATTISTOCK 206-6 (18pts) by four wickets (DLS method)

CATTISTOCK extended their lead at the top of County Division One to 38 points with three games left after a well-earned victory at Shillingstone.

The visitors elected to bowl first on a day where high winds meant sight screens and bails could not be used.

Shillingstone got off to a good start with a flurry of boundaries from Harry Paulley (12) in the opening overs.

He was ousted by Sam Baker (1-28) who took a towering caught and bowled chance. From here the weather closed in, two short rain delays followed and the game was reduced to 41 overs per side. Jon Legg (3-23) was introduced and accounted for the wicket of Shillingstone captain Tom House (22).

Legg also picked up the wicket of Robin Cunningham (34) and then Elsworth to put the hosts at 85-4.

Nick Baker (68no) held firm for the home team and started to find the boundary, wickets came at the other end however, Renier Fourie (2-46) taking two in the closing overs.

Due to the rain delay and subsequent reduction of overs, Cattistock had a revised target of 203 from 41 overs.

Cattistock found themselves two down early on as Jason Bradley (3) and Legg (7) headed back to the pavilion.

Ben Golledge (26) hit five quick boundaries but he too was soon back in the pavilion. Steve Tucker joined Liam Toohill at the crease and started a counter attack, he struck three fours and one six before he was caught for 23.

Cattistock were 78-4 at this point and still a long way off their target. Baker came to the crease and along with Toohill looked to build a partnership.

Against the spin of House and Nick Baker they had to be watchful but they worked the ball around well and pushed the ones and twos whilst waiting for the opportunity to hit the bad ball to the fence.

The stand had moved to 60 and the target below 70 when Toohill was caught for 48.

Martin Langford (9) was unfortunate to be run out backing up and Fourie went out to the middle to try and get Cattistock over the line.

Sam Baker picked up the pace and passed his 50 in the 39th over, off which he took 13 runs and swung the game firmly in the visitors’ favour. With the scores level it was left to Fourie to hit the winning runs with a boundary through the leg side.

Captain Bradley Damen said: “The conditions didn’t make it easy for the bowlers but they worked hard and stuck to their plans.

“Leggy did well to pick up the key wickets of their best batters and Renier did well at the end of the innings to help restrict them.

“We didn’t get off to the best of starts with the bat but we managed to build good partnerships after that to edge us closer to our target.

“Liam and Sam batted really well to get us there.”

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