CATTISTOCK & SYMENE 119 (5pts) lost to DORCHESTER 230-7 (20pts) by 111 runs

DORCHESTER sealed top spot in Dorset ‘Thank You NHS’ League Division One Group A with a 111-run hammering of Cattistock & Symene.

James Dunham’s men will now host Group B winners Poole Town in a play-off on Saturday to decide the Division One title.

Quality batting set the foundation for unbeaten Dorchester, as openers Will Caldwell and Scott Peach grafted to 94-0 on a damp surface after losing the toss.

Caldwell (23) played an anchor role while Peach, a former Walsall batsman, scored freely.

Dorset all-rounder Jon Legg (3-36) bowled Caldwell to make the breakthrough and the Foxes clawed their way back into the game with three quick wickets.

Ollie Legg (1-51) dismissed Seb Carty (12) before his elder brother took the big scalp of Peach, who hit a run-a-ball 79 including 10 fours and four maximums.

Simon Mitchem (6) fell to the county spinner soon afterwards, but Will McKay (41) and James Caldwell (25) continued to accelerate the innings.

Both men found the boundary regularly, with McKay’s crunching 41 off 31 balls featuring four sixes, and Caldwell’s knock coming from just 20 deliveries.

Josh Richardson smashed 19 from nine balls as Dorchester set an imposing 231 target.

Cattistock and Symene never got going thanks to the accuracy of opening bowlers James Caldwell and Dunham.

Caldwell (2-14) showed why Dorset came calling for his services with another classy display of seam bowling, removing Foxes’ star batsmen Martin Langford and Jon Legg for ducks.

Dunham (1-25) chipped in with the wicket of opener Jason Bradley (20) while big-hitting Steve Tucker (13) was trapped lbw by Mitchem, who bowled Phil Hawkins for a 10-ball duck.

Dorchester had reduced the Foxes to 48-5, which worsened to 52-6 when off-spinner Jamie Barrett pinned home skipper Brad Damen (3) lbw.

Billy Wallbridge (25) and Brad Mullins (34) resisted with positive knocks, each containing a six, until Ben Thompson (1-28) and Mitchem ousted the duo.

And, just as he did against Portland last week, Mitchem blew the tail away to claim stunning figures of 5-7 for his second consecutive five-wicket haul.

Speaking to Echosport, Dunham said: “It was a good day at the office. It was a wet pitch when we arrived but we were happy doing either (batting or bowling).

“Will and Peachy opened up and saw off the danger. It wasn’t easy for them but they stuck through it. Peachy batted superbly and Will did his job.

“Their partnership built the innings for the lads, Will McKay, Josh and James all came in and went over one a ball. In the last 10 (overs) we got close to 80 runs.

“When you look back at it, it was the perfectly paced first innings. To hit 230 we were a bit above par.”

Dunham added: “It was kind of a mirror of last week with our bowling.

“Myself and Jimmy contained the run rate and we knew after that they’d have to go some.

“When you’ve got the depth of Mitchem, Richardson, Thompson and Barrett you know we could contain it.

“It allowed Mitchem to do exactly what he did last week, he just went through them. Credit to him, he’s got 10 wickets in two games – he’s on fire.”

CONTACT ME:

t: 01305 830999

e: neil.walton

@dorsetecho.co.uk

twitter: @EchoSportNeil