WEYMOUTH 183 (5pts) lost to BROADSTONE 184-2 (20pts) by eight wickets

WEYMOUTH were “outplayed in all areas” according to stand-in skipper Tom England.

The Seasiders went down to their sixth defeat of the Dorset Premier League campaign as high-flying Broadstone cantered to an eight-wicket victory at Redlands.

The hosts were skittled for 183, with opening batsman Kieron Womble (50) top-scoring, before the visitors, led by Matt Thomas (80), surpassed that tally with 14 overs remaining.

And England, holding the fort in the absence of injured captain Paul Payne, has called for a big improvement ahead of this weekend’s trip to Wimborne & Colehill.

He said: “It wasn’t a very enjoyable day for my first game as captain.

“We lost the toss and were put in on a very good track and a quick outfield. We got off to a solid start with Kieron and Dean Janaway (24) putting on 58 and going well.

“But when Dean got out we had a bit of a collapse and never really recovered. There was a partnership towards the end between Faraz Ulhaq (29) and Ben Doidge (30) but 183 all out in 43 overs was never enough.

“It left a very difficult job for the bowlers who didn’t have a lot to work with. Faraz (1-29) bowled well but there wasn’t a lot of support to go with him and it was a very disappointing day at the office. There were some positives but we need to improve in a lot of areas.

“It’s a lesson we have got to learn from, and learn quickly. We weren’t good enough and were well and truly beaten.

“Broadstone are a good team and they outplayed us in all areas.

“We have to pick ourselves up as we’ve got a big game with Wimborne on Saturday. They are down there with us and we need to go there and put in a much better performance.”

The Seasiders did make an encouraging start with Womble and Janaway at the crease but the next four batsmen – England, Will McKay, Jonny Armfield and Sean Fitzgerald – mustered just 11 runs between them.

That left the hosts with a mountain to climb in their bid to post a competitive total.

Ulhaq and Doidge did their utmost in the lower half but with Steve Trembath (5-45) and D Hand (2-26) in top form, Weymouth were soon all out for 183.

The Seasiders took 11 overs to make the breakthrough in Broadstone’s reply, removing Sam Chapman (36), but the visitors had already made 77 to put themselves firmly in the driving seat.

And with Thomas racking up 12 fours before he was caught by Fitzgerald off the bowling of James Almond (1-26), the inevitable became a reality with eight wickets in hand.