BOURNEMOUTH V 62-5 (18pts) beat WEYMOUTH II 61 (2pts) by five wickets

EIGHT-man Weymouth Seconds put up a good fight against Bournemouth Fifths in their County Division Six tussle but went down by five wickets at Chapel Gate.

The depleted Seasiders won the toss and elected to bat first on a ground with an overgrown outfield, but they made steady early progress as the father-and-son opening combination of Pete and Ollie Gordon reached 24-0.

But when Ollie (6) fell to Aaron Jones (1-8), captain Pete (16) followed just one run later to the bowling of Ashley Smith (1-13).

New batsman Tom Anderson (0) then quickly became one of three victims to fall to the economical A Wallace (3-6 from 7.3 overs) as Weymouth stuttered to 28-3.

A brief stand of 15 between Tony Quayle and Pete Sapsworth was ended when Quayle got a lifting delivery and was given out leg before wicket for 11.

Bournemouth captain Ashley Humber (2-17) returned from dismissing Quayle to oust newcomer Andy Jeffreys (2) as Weymouth struggled to 45-5.

Andy Anderson (15) then hit the vast majority of the runs in a partnership of 16 with Sapsworth, including a boundary, but he was caught off Wallace, who then bowled George Gordon (0) to end the Seasiders’ innings on 61.

Many would have written Weymouth off at this stage, but they roared back into contention with a superb display of bowling.

Tom Anderson (1-7) was the catalyst when he removed Tom Collins (2), before fellow opener Jeffreys (1-9) got in on the act.

And Weymouth reduced the hosts to 21-4 when an Ollie Gordon (2-11) spell proved too much for Bournemouth wicketkeeper Jamie Elviss (9) and Connor McGrail (0).

Andy Anderson continued to apply the pressure created by Weymouth’s young attack and he dismissed Ruhan Harmse (4) as Bournemouth wobbled to 32-5.

But the wickets soon dried up when Mark Smith (11no) and Wallace (18no) showed grit and determination to thwart the Weymouth bowlers and guide their side home to victory with an invaluable 30-run stand.

Bournemouth’s win keeps them in fourth in the league on 118 points, with Weymouth directly below them 20 points behind but with two games in hand.

Bere Regis Seconds continue to lead the way on 170 points and enjoy a 15-point gap over second-placed Bradford Abbas, also with a game in hand.

Next up for Pete Gordon’s men on Saturday are Bradford Abbas, who travel to Redlands aiming to do the double over the Seasiders having beaten them in June.

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