COMPTON HOUSE 200 (20pts) beat WEYMOUTH 80 (5pts) by 120 runs

WEYMOUTH sustained a heavy 120-run defeat at second-placed Compton House in their County Division One encounter.

The under-strength Seasiders dropped the likes of Tim Guyett and James Almond into the second team, also handing a first-team debut to promising teenage seamer Ben Hunter.

That move helped Weymouth’s seconds achieve promotion to County Division Six with a crushing nine-wicket win over Lytchett at Redlands.

Hunter made a seamless debut in the firsts, claiming the scalps of House openers Mike Kennedy (59) and Michael Harper (55) on his way to impressive figures of 4-29 from seven overs.

But Weymouth were blitzed in their reply by the part-time bowling of Joe Watts, who has regularly opened the batting, rather than starring with the ball, for the hosts this season.

Watts (4-22) dismissed Kieron Womble (9), Dom Webb (9) plus Callum Guest and skipper Harry Mitchell for ducks as Weymouth’s top order wilted.

Wily medium pacer Harper (4-22) then tore through the lower order despite spirited knocks from Shafeek Urumancheri (20) and Hunter (14) as House bowled their opponents out for 80.

For the Seasiders, it was a case of mission accomplished with the firsts safe in fourth and the seconds sealing an instant return to Division Five after relegation last year.

A superb haul of 4-18 from Sahil Dalvi, backed up by 2-18 from Luke Lovett, did the damage against Lytchett as Weymouth bowled their opponents out for just 74, captain Nathan Stuart (27) solely reaching double figures.

In reply, Lovett (26no) carried his bat as Almond (21) and Guyett (13no) speedily polished off the required target in just 13.4 overs.

Weymouth Seconds can secure the County Division Six title by beating Bournemouth Fifths on Saturday (1.30pm).

Speaking to Echosport regarding the firsts’ performance, Mitchell reserved praise for Hunter.

He said: “Ben was outstanding with the ball and his attitude in the field was brilliant.

“Coming up, I don’t think he was flustered about it and didn’t make it a big deal that he was playing for the first team – it was just like any other game to him.

“His mentality was brilliant. Just little things for me, from the warm-up, wanting to go first and wanting to prove why he’s here. Everything about him was really impressive.

“Then with the ball he was putting it in good areas. With the bat, a lot of the first-teamers weren’t doing a lot and he got the second-highest score.

“He’s one for the future. He’s bowling with good pace and didn’t look out of place with the bat.”

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