CERNE VALLEY 135-6 (19pts) beat BROADSTONE II 128-9 (6pts) by four wickets (DLS method)

CERNE Valley continued their upsurge in form with a four-wicket win over Broadstone Seconds in County Division Two.

Rain reduced the match to 32 overs per side and some aggressive strokeplay had Broadstone at 81-1 before Daniel Cook (14), one of only three Broadstone players to reach double figures, edged one to slip, brilliantly caught one-handed by Russ Hurford off Lloyd Mitchem (2-23).

From this point, only 47 runs were added to the total with Sam Downey (6-10) producing a superb five-over spell of spin bowling to swing the game in Cerne's favour.

In reply, John Stiles and Hurford got off to a flyer, reaching 48 runs with some fantastic cover drives.

Henry Ostling (3-24) tempted Russ Hurford (18) into offering a catch to mid on and quick wickets fell as Simon Walsh (5) and James Ellwood (0) perished.

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Solo Roper (14) and Mitchem (11) tried to steady the ship but it was left to the ever-present Downey (22no) and Craig Kellaway (19no) to see Cerne comfortably home with four wickets to spare.

Speaking to Echosport, stand-in skipper Mitchem said: "It was a tough call to make to bowl first but in the end I think I was justified as our bowlers made the difference.

"Sam bowled superbly on a tricky pitch and all the other bowlers produced good spells. It was a bit nervy at the end but we got over the line and got a well deserved win.

"We have got Shaftesbury (today) and in the context of the league, they are just below us so it is a really important game."