DORCHESTER 146-7 (20pts) beat POOLE TOWN 145 (6pts) by three wickets

DORCHESTER beat old rivals Poole Town on the final ball of the match to secure a thrilling three-wicket victory in the Dorset Funeral Plan Premier League at the Rec.

Reigning champions Dorchester still required 31 runs with just four overs and three wickets remaining.

That was until Josh Richardson (23 off 17 balls) and new signing Jon Legg (17 from 24) began to compile a match-winning partnership, Richardson smashing a huge six into the cemetery.

With the scores tied on the final ball, Richardson swept into the leg side for the winning single to send Dorchester’s large home following into raptures.

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Earlier, both Richardson and Legg had been instrumental in bowling Poole out for 145.

Dorchester had reduced Poole to 15-2 as Dan Belt (1-22) caught and bowled Jacques van Wyk (6) and Legg ran out Aryan Mehta (1).

Badrul Alam (43) and Ciaran Quinn (51) rebuilt but Richardson (3-34) removed both batsmen and had Rich Armstrong (0) caught by vice-captain Nick Roe.

Spin twins Legg (3-29) and Jamie Barrett (2-25) then hoovered up the tail around a patient knock from Dave Miller (22).

James Kirk (1-24) struck early for Poole as Dorchester’s reply wobbled at 40-3 with captain Joe Wilson (3-22) ousting Scott Peach (16) and Eral Anderson (1) in his first two overs.

Late call-up Will McKay (42) anchored the Dorchester innings as off-spinner Joe Wormington (3-32) ripped through the middle order of Simon Mitchem (16), James Caldwell and Belt (both 9).

When Wilson tempted McKay into top-edging a sweep, Dorchester still needed 42 before the heroics of Richardson and Legg took them over the line.

Speaking to Echosport, Roe said: “Credit to Poole, we always knew it was going to be close either way.

“At halfway we were looking at 170, they had two guys set. If one of those stayed on, they might’ve been looking at a bigger score.

“Our spinners bowled well at the back end and Richy and Leggy finishing it off, especially Rich putting one in the cemetery, it was pretty dramatic.

“We bat deep and we always back Rich to clear the ropes, it’s nothing out of the ordinary for what he can do.

“Over the last couple of years, Josh has got wickets at big moments and he’s stepped up.

“It was amazing from him, both with bat and ball.”

Dorchester Seconds and Dorchester Thirds saw their games fall foul of waterlogged pitches against Wimborne and Colehill Seconds and Cheselbourne respectively.