CATTISTOCK & SYMENE 130 (4pts) lost to DORCHESTER 131-4 (20pts) by six wickets

DORCHESTER kept up the pressure on Dorset Premier League leaders Wimborne with a maximum-point victory at winless Cattistock & Symene.

Reigning champions Dorchy still trail the Minstermen by seven points after the table toppers beat Broadstone by five wickets.

However, Dorchester are firing on all cylinders now and were never seriously stretched by the Foxes.

Cattistock & Symene won the toss and chose to bat, only for Wes Lewis (11) to fall lbw to away skipper Dan Belt (4-49).

READ MORE: Dorchester beat Sherborne by three wickets

Jason Bradley (8) and Luke King (35) shared 37, with King hitting six boundaries in his knock, until both men were stumped by the sharp hands of Jim Ryall off Billy Baker (1-5) and Rob Nobbs respectively.

After losing both set batters, the Foxes briefly recovered through Ollie Nicholas (22) and Brad Mullins (15) but Nobbs (3-32) accounted for the duo to leave the hosts on 106-5.

Dorchester then rattled through the Foxes’ tail as Belt returned to complete his four-for and left-arm spinner Jon Legg weighed in with 2-19 to help bowl his former club out for 130.

In reply, Dorchester cantered to 60-0 as Jim Ryall steamed along by the time Simon Mitchem (13) nicked Mullins (2-38) behind to wicketkeeper Steve Tucker.

His wicket sparked a wobble for Dorchester to 68-3 as Ryall (41), who hit seven boundaries in his 31-ball knock, was dismissed by Ollie Legg (1-27) and Gautham Rajendar (6) edged Mullins to Tucker.

It took a sensible stand of 51 after tea from Mike Peak (26) and Eral Anderson (28no) to break the back of the chase.

Although Peak perished, bowled by Ethan Robertson (1-25), Dorchester were just 12 runs from home as Anderson and Legg (4no) guided the visitors home.

Speaking to Echosport, Belt said: “Losing the toss and getting asked to bowl – we would’ve bowled anyway – worked in our favour.

“All the boys bowled well and the fielders backed them up. To get them out for 130 on a reasonably small ground we were pretty happy with.

“The wickets were shared out, which was nice for everyone.”

On his side’s batting, Belt added: “It was a typical bat for so long before tea, look comfortable and then wickets fell after tea.

“We know we’ve got depth so we were pretty comfortable it would see us home.

“It was nice for Mike to get some runs, he’s struggled the last few weeks to get some rhythm.

“Obviously, Eral’s got runs whenever he’s played so it was nice to get the full 20 points.”

Elsewhere, Dorchester Seconds were thrashed by ten wickets at home to Chalke Valley in County Division Two, while their third team beat Bournemouth Fifths by 95 runs in Division Six.