WEYMOUTH 232-6 (20pts) beat MARNHULL 230 (11pts) by two runs

WEYMOUTH reversed their losing trend in tight games this season to beat Marnhull by two runs in County Division One at Redlands.

Harry Mitchell’s Seasiders finished fifth overall after claiming the maximum 20 points, jumping Marnhull in the process, but not without a scare.

Weymouth had built well after winning the toss and batting first, Tom England (7) the only early casualty to Cameron Cudlipp (3-22).

Dom Webb and Mitchell then piled on the runs, taking Weymouth to 116-1 until Mitchell (22) was caught off Ashley Young (1-27).

Webb (63) and new man Tim Guyett (23) fell in quick succession to Paul Woodrow (2-58) as Marnhull reduced the hosts to 149-4.

However, quick runs for Kieron Womble (29) and a rapid 52 from 34 balls by Lloyd Beals – his second half-century against Marnhull this season – propelled Weymouth to 232-6 from 40 overs.

Marnhull’s target of 233 looked beyond them when Beals (4-19) and Tim Guyett (1-54) put the visitors in trouble at 35-3.

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Ashley Young (46) was typically aggressive in his batting approach and 38 for Henry Dimmack helped Marnhull back in the game.

Weymouth responded through Adam Hoyes (2-24), while Mitchell (2-45) bowled Young amid a flurry of wickets to leave Marnhull on 145-8.

But just as they did in the reverse fixture, Marnhull staged a gutsy fightback from what seemed a losing position.

Their cause was helped by a dazzling 59 not out from 43 balls by Zack Caunt, who found late assistance from Will Primrose (20) before he perished to Beals.

Needing just four off the last over, Beals conjured late heroics with the ball to bowl Cudlipp (2) and end the contest with just three balls remaining.

Mitchell told Echosport: “It’s kind of a monkey off our back. We’ve had maybe five or six games that have come down to the last over.

“Every time we’ve come out the wrong side of it. For us to finish on a high like that was really good.

“The last two games we’ve had sides out which have been a lot more competitive, so that helps.

“We did the basics perfectly with the bat.

“Dom and Tommy started off really well and we were 100-1 again, two in two weeks.

“We laid that platform for Tim, Womble and Lloyd to hit the ball hard.”

On the bowling aspects, he added: “When the going got tough you’re asking Lloyd to come on and win the game.

“He was going to have to bowl (Cudlipp) out and he’s nailed his yorker, so it was a really good finish and a good way to finish the season.”

Reflecting on the season, Mitchell felt his side could have challenged league winners Puddletown with the benefit of a consistent squad.

He said: “I don’t think it’s a secret that if we had our better team out like we did at the start of the season that we would be really competitive.

“We would’ve placed a lot higher. We had three rained off and a loss and then we weren’t going anywhere.

“Availability did drop off and it is what it is. We’re still in a hangover from Covid, people want to get out and enjoy their weekends.

“Next year we’re going to be in a really good place, we’ve got a lot more commitment from players.

“Overall fifth is probably where we deserved to be.”

Elsewhere, Weymouth Seconds rounded off their season with a 20-run victory at Cattistock & Symene Seconds in County Division Five North & West.

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