ST GEORGE’S survived a scare to Charlton Down by four wickets and lift the Doug Read Cup trophy.

Charlton Down won the toss and chose to bat first, immediately finding the going difficult against Bere’s attack.

Free-hitting Cameron Lucas (0) was bowled by Ross Baker (1-8) before Matt King took 3-23.

Jack Eveleigh (22), Ashley Hayes (13) and Nitin Joshi (10) were the only players to make it into double figures as Down were skittled for 60.

However, Down nearly pulled off a sensational comeback at St George’s were reduced to 27-5, Mark Homewood claiming 2-10.

It was left to Mike (21no) and Rich Cole (7no) to guide the Saints home, closing on 64-6.

In Dorchester & District Evening League action, Cerne Valley pulled off two excellent wins in Division Two.

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John Stiles with 50 not out and James Elwood (61no) got them to 160-3 against Plush.

Dan Tate led the reply but when George Wilkes (3-16) took three wickets in quick succession, Plush were left to struggle to 107-6.

Against Bere Regis, Tao White (3-37) took three early wickets but Harry Green (40no) and Cieran Woodhouse (49no) set 150 as a target.

Cerne’s top order collapsed completely as five wickets went down for very little, but then James Elwood with 63 and Pearce Mercer 35 got hold of the bowling and led Cerne home without further loss.

Bere did, however, fare rather better against Plush as the two bottom sides met, Bere moving ahead of Plush to avoid the wooden spoon.

That man Neil Walton was in form with the bat again for Abbotsbury, this time with a rousing 72 against Puddletown seconds, who tried 10 bowlers against him – but could only get him by a run out.

Chris Eastment tried hard for Puddle with 60 not out but his side ended 33 runs short as Sean Norsworthy took 2-15.

In Division Three, Frampton defeated Charlton Down Seconds by a good margin, Dean Smy’s 4-12 and Ben Buckland’s unbeaten 45 leading to a seven-wicket win.

But Frampton then went down to Dorchester Colts as tight bowling by the Colts kept them to 102-5, which Ben Alford with 45 not out and James Dunham’s 23 helped Colts reach for a six-wicket triumph.

Adam Church was again on form with the ball as he took two early wickets for Puddletown Rugby Club against Puddletown Thirds.

But Steven Chaldecott (37) and Duncan Macbean (30) then led the recovery to 106-6, a target which proved well beyond Rugby Club as they subsided to 76-9, a 30-run win for Puddletown.