BERE REGIS 163-9 (19pts) beat CATTISTOCK & SYMENE 159-8 (11pts) by one wicket

BERE Regis edged a last-ball thriller with Cattistock & Symene to record their second Dorset ‘Thank You NHS’ League Division One win of the season.

With the scores level on the final ball, Bere needed one run with just one wicket in hand.

Dave Griffiths duly stepped up to plunder a four over the top off away skipper Brad Damen to spark celebrations from Bere.

Bere won the toss and asked Cattistock & Symene to bat first, almost immediately running Sam Baker (6) out.

Leading scorer Ben Golledge rebuilt with Jon Legg (14) until the latter fell to Sam Goodhew (1-32), Liam Toohill (0) then perishing to Sean Walbridge (2-22).

Golledge, who struck eight fours and a six, looked set for a 50 until Walbridge forced him to a mis-time a shot.

Ollie Legg was then run out without facing and the innings was salvaged by Damen (51 off 56) and Bradley Mullins (27), the duo sharing 57 to move the Foxes to a defendable score of 159-8.

Damen had Matt King (0) caught off the very first ball of Bere’s reply while Sam Goodhew was dropped by Golledge the next ball.

The accurate Mullins also had Goodhew put down off his bowling, the batsman surviving a remarkable three extra chances.

Jon Legg (3-23) came into the attack and accounted for Richard Payne (10) and Goodhew (32) at the sixth attempt, also snaring Tim Goodhew (1) to leave the hosts 83-4 – needing 77 to win from 14 overs.

Toohill (5-31) proved influential and picked up the key wicket of Robert Murphy (33) and pouched a return catch from Rich Cole (4) four balls later.

With Simon Proffitt and Griffiths at the crease the hosts moved within 25 runs of victory with four overs to go.

Toohill again struck twice in an over, clean bowling Proffitt (19) and Dean Rogerson (1).

Eight runs were scored from the 39th over with Sean Walbridge (3) becoming Toohill’s fifth victim.

With six runs needed from six balls, Damen kept it tight and had a close LBW appeal turned down before Griffiths found the boundary to win a dramatic match.

Bere captain Brian Keegan told Echosport: “We stuttered to the winning total. The one defining knock was from Dave and he got us over the line, courtesy also of a few extras gratefully received in the last few overs.

“We didn’t bat well enough and kept losing regular wickets. We sneaked over the line.”

“Griffter batted really well in a partnership with Proff and at one stage I thought the two of them were going to see us home.

“Griffter hung himself out there and got us over the winning line. I can’t speak highly enough of the way he batted. Without him, I don’t think we would’ve been anywhere close.”

Bradley Damen said: “It’s a shame to be on the wrong side of a final-over finish for a second game this season but this was a great performance from the lads.

“Benny was brilliant at the top of the order once again and Brad played superbly to help us get our score up above 150 by the end of our innings.

“It was a wicket where a tight line and length were rewarded and our bowlers did well to restrict them in the first half of the innings and set up that tight finish.

“It was great to see Liam back bowling and picking up some vital wickets. We could’ve been a bit tighter in the field and that’s something we will look to improve on in our remaining games.”