POOLE TOWN 195-6 (18pts) beat DORCHESTER 120-9 (4pts) by 75 runs

DORCHESTER were leapfrogged by Poole Town at the summit of the Dorset Funeral Plan Premier League after a convincing 75-run loss at Poole Park.

One point now separates the two title contenders with two games left of what promises to be a storming conclusion to one of the closest title battles in recent years.

In a tactical match, with both sides reluctant to concede bowling points for wickets earned, Poole were invited to bat and got off to a good start as Jacques van Wyk readily scored boundaries.

Van Wyk’s 32-ball stay at the crease was ended by Josh Richardson (2-30) after the opener had lashed six fours.

Richardson also accounted for opener Mike Stonier (25) before Badrul Alam (29) and Brewster Surridge (31) combined to thwart Dorchester’s attack.

That was until both men fell with the score on 134 and Poole cagily approached the 200 mark, albeit falling just short, through Richard Armstrong (19), Lewis Marais (18) and Ciaran Quinn (16) contributions.

Dorchester were never in the hunt during the chase as James Kirk (2-32) removed openers Jim Ryall (7) and Jack Owens (17) cheaply before the miserly Alam tore through the middle order.

The Poole all-rounder claimed scintillating figures of 4-8 from 10 overs to reduce Dorchester to 64-6.

Dorchester’s Jack Walkett then scored 12 battling unbeaten runs off 43 balls alongside captain James Dunham (9no off 49 balls) to prevent Poole claiming maximum bowling points from the resounding win.

Speaking to Echosport, Dunham described the contest as “cat and mouse”.

He said: “Poole batted very well and we bowled very well – the first 50 overs was a brilliant game of cricket.

“The game was cat and mouse throughout, with giving each other points and thinking about the league.

“I think 190 was probably par and I didn’t feel unconfident chasing them down at halfway, but when you’re 91-9 we just didn’t apply ourselves in the first two sessions of play.

“It is disappointing. You can’t do it every week and this is why (winning) the league is a big achievement, it’s a long season, it’s not going to go right every week and it didn’t with the bat.

“I guess we batted the full 50 overs, adapted to that and we stopped them getting that extra point. They’re one point ahead now, so it’s all to play for with two games left.”

Dorchester visit Shroton and host Martinstown in their season’s climax, while Poole visit reigning champions Wimborne and host Shroton in their finale.

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