MARNHULL 223-7 (12pts) tied with WEYMOUTH 223-5 (13pts)

WEYMOUTH snatched a chaotic tie from the jaws of victory as Marnhull battled to parity in their County Division One clash.

With Marnhull needing 95 from the final 10 overs, Weymouth’s bowling was uncharacteristically sloppy in the closing stages.

Requiring 14 from the final over, a controversial four given by the home umpire and a six when Neil Walton tipped a head-height chance over the ropes proved pivotal for the hosts.

Marnhull’s Edwin Ralph then scrambled a two on a nerve-jangling final delivery to spark wild celebrations from the home faithful.

Weymouth, who close to within one point of Hamworthy in third, have now failed to win after posting scores in excess of 200 in their past three visits to Marnhull.

Earlier, Weymouth had batted first after losing the toss and were untroubled in building to 54-0 before Tom England (29) slashed a cut to gully off the impressive Ed Clements (2-28).

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However, half-centuries in consecutive weeks for John Wilson (50) and Lloyd Beals (50no) – the latter’s coming off just 25 balls – plus 39 from Dom Webb, helped Weymouth to 223-5 from 40 overs.

Marnhull went on the attack immediately in their reply, Ashley Young crunching several sweep shots for four off Graham Puckett (0-57).

But Weymouth skipper Harry Mitchell (2-22) pinned Young (28) leg before to make the breakthrough, going on to bowl young opener Arthur Dimmack (25).

The Seasiders squeezed the run rate down with tight bowling in the middle overs and two quick wickets for Beals (2-21) handed the advantage to Weymouth with Marnhull on 159-4.

That was until Marnhull threw some powerful hitting at Weymouth, who were unable to respond despite three wickets for leg-spinner Shafeek Urumancheri (3-57).

Among Urumancheri’s victims was Clements (47) but a swashbuckling 28 from 13 balls by Angus Brown carved an opening for the hosts in the final over.

Ralph was awarded four despite protests from Beals on the boundary line and Walton’s misjudged catch left Marnhull needing three to win from the last ball.

However, Ralph could only pat Urumancheri to Mitchell at deep mid-wicket and the batsmen scrambled home to cement an unlikely tie.

Speaking to Echosport after the result, Mitchell said: “The target we set was a really good target on that pitch, I thought we were probably 10 over par.

“But there were only two bowlers that performed to the ability they can do.

“We just didn’t quite get over the line.

“Apart from that, we’re just really enjoying our cricket.

“Everyone’s looking forward to playing the next game, regardless of results, and the social side’s fantastic.

“There’s quite a good feeling around the club at the moment.”

Mitchell added: “It’s hard to be critical but it’s just bowling in the right areas at the end – we didn’t do that – and the fielding could’ve been better.

“It was a funny game of cricket. We had to change a lot of things to make it work and it is what it is.”

Weymouth now go into a crucial run of games, entertaining Portland and Stalbridge at Redlands either side of a meeting with runaway leaders Puddletown at Milton Abbey.

Mitchell said: “After this week there’s no pressure on us. We had three games rained off at the start and our season’s over after that anyway.

“If you want to do anything in this league, you can only afford to lose one or two games. Having three rained off is like having three losses back-to-back.

“We haven’t lost a lot of points in the games we’ve played this season, so we’re getting closer to where we want to be. It’s a massive positive for us.”

Dorset Trade Skills man of the match: Lloyd Beals

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