CHRISTCHURCH 213-7 (8pts) lost to DORCHESTER 214-6 (18pts) by four wickets

DORCHESTER guaranteed themselves top spot going into the second half of the season with a gritty four-wicket victory at Christchurch.

Reigning Dorset Funeral Plan Premier League champions Dorchy are now assured of a minimum 15-point lead following next week’s bye round.

That is providing Martinstown take all 20 points from their clash with Christchurch.

Victory at Hurn Bridge gave Dorchester a fourth successive win – although both their opponents and the rain attempted to thwart them.

Christchurch, who had twice pushed Dorchester close in 2019, started well with the bat as captain Craig Campbell (39) and Matthew Wright (33) piled on 83 runs for the first wicket.

Spin duo Jamie Barrett (2-47) and Jon Legg (2-31) made the respective breakthroughs and Legg bowled Warren Bennet (6) cheaply to leave the hosts on 104-3.

Ben Nethersole (41) and Ben Rayner (47) with crucial late runs to take the score over 200, Duncan Wilcocks (19) also contributing as Dorchester were set a victory target of 214 from 45 overs.

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With rain looming, Dorchester were conscious of speeding above the Duckworth-Lewis asking rate but lost openers Jim Ryall (11) and Jack Owens (1) to Charlie Rodgers (2-24).

Simon Mitchem and Jon Legg patiently steadied Dorchester’s ship from 20-2, compiling a 91-run stand for the third wicket until Legg (29) fell to the tricky spinner Nick Marsh (1-38).

Mitchem continued to score fluently but began to ran out of partners as stand-in captain Dan Belt (8) and Eral Anderson (12) came and went.

However, timing his innings perfectly, Mitchem scored quickly after reaching 50 and – even with rain falling in the final five overs – helped ensure Dorchester needed just 12 runs from 12 balls.

Extras proved a major problem for Christchurch, who gifted a massive 50, and Rodgers shipped 10 runs in the final over of his spell.

New man Barrett (2no) then struck the winning runs to hand Dorchester victory with five balls to go, the classy Mitchem unbeaten on 86 from 113 balls.

Speaking to Echosport, Belt said: “Si was the anchor in our chase, he batted very well, batted the whole innings and got us over the line.

“He knew it was a patient game even though there was weather around.

“It was one of those things on my mind that we had to get close to the Duckworth-Lewis.

“Si was pretty confident that we would have time to bat.

“He paced his innings perfectly, got himself in and when he needed to go at the end of the innings, he went. It was a great performance by Si.”

On a tense finish with rain falling, Belt added: “It rained for the last five overs, which with them being a young team, the wet ball with their inexperience did affect them.

“There were a few beamers and one bowler got taken off for two beamers on the trot.

“Not that we capitalised on the free hits. We had four or five and scored maybe two runs.

“It shows the depth in the team that we can chase these totals, even if it’s not going for us.

“It wasn’t easy but having Si bat the innings was perfect for us.”

Elsewhere, Dorchester Seconds lost by 10 wickets to Parley Seconds in County Division Two.

Dorchy’s thirds lost by 165 runs to Bradford Abbas in County Division Five North & West.

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