POOLE TOWN 141-5 (17pts) beat DORCHESTER 139 (7pts) by two runs

DORCHESTER’S five-game unbeaten run came to an end as Poole Town clinched a vital two-run victory at Poole Park.

Chasing 142 and well placed at 130-7, Dorchester’s tail was skittled as Richard Armstrong (2-13) proved Poole’s hero.

The all-rounder had earlier stroked 54 from 78 balls to guide Poole to a defendable total on a damp pitch, but Dorchester will be left kicking themselves after coming up three runs short of a win.

Second-placed Poole’s win has big ramifications in the Dorset Funeral Plan Premier League title race, with the gap to leaders Dorchester now just seven points with a possible 120 to play for.

Dorchester will have been delighted with their bowling display – especially after being asked to field first.

Dan Belt (1-32) and Josh Richardson (2-15) made early breakthroughs, including Alex Allum for a painfully slow four from 43 balls.

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Ciaran Quinn (0) made a duck and Jon Legg (2-17) helped reduce Poole to 88-5 with the key wicket of Badrul Alam (44).

Armstrong’s starring role of 54 not out would eventually prove crucial, assisted capably by Dan Jackson (15no) as Poole recorded 141-5 from 45 overs.

And Jackson was every bit as impressive with the ball as Armstrong was with the bat.

The seamer wrought havoc early in Dorchester’s reply, bowling openers Jim Ryall (0) and Dan Morris (4) before dismissing Simon Mitchem (0) leg before.

At 14-3, Seb Carty (39) played a superb knock to nurse Dorchester back into the contest.

That was until Joe Wormington (3-23) successfully claimed a treble of lbw appeals to send Carty, Legg (11) and Mike Peak (0) back to the pavilion.

Jack Owens and Belt (12) staged another rebuilding job to move the visitors onto 107-6 until Belt was run out.

The runs of Owens (32) took Dorchester to the brink of victory with 12 runs required and three wickets in hand until Jackson (4-27) had him caught behind off his foot, enabling Armstrong to bowl Nick Roe (1) and James Dunham (0) for a nerve-jangling win.

Speaking to Echosport, Dunham said: “It was a great game of cricket from both sides. They had four spinners and one seamer. When a pitch is turning a lot it worked in their favour. Credit to their bowlers.

“It was a game we really should have won but fell short by only two runs. We’re a bit gutted but we’ve got a six-game shootout now.

“The most consistent team will win the league.”

He added: “When you look back, both sides bowled very well.

“It was a pitch that was a bit damp and two teams not giving much away with fields being set for that type of pitch.

“There weren’t many boundaries throughout the whole day, a lot of running had to be done.

“Both teams did well to restrict the batsmen. We thought 150 was a good score, so when they got 141 we were content.

“Rich and Dan batted well for them at the end but we just lost wickets in chunks.

“The runs was never the problem for us, it was losing wickets.

“We did speak about that before the game. We’ve played at Poole Park previously and lost wickets in chunks and at bad times.

“It’s just a shame that that’s been the problem again.”