DORCHESTER 170-7 (19pts) beat CATTISTOCK & SYMENE 169-9 (6pts) by three wickets

DORCHESTER have taken the Dorset Premier League title race into the final weekend for the second season running after a tense three-wicket win over Cattistock & Symene.

Dorchester needed to beat the Foxes at Dorchester Rec to guarantee themselves a shot at winning the league for a fourth consecutive time.

Their 19 points in this game matched that of top side Poole’s haul against Martinstown, meaning an eight-point gap still exists.

Long-time leaders Wimborne, however, lost at home to Broadstone and need both Poole and Dorchester to suffer massive defeats on the final day to overhaul a 16-point gap.

READ MORE: Dorchester beat Sherborne by 40 runs

Dorchester were given a strenuous test by Cattistock, with a catalogue of players missing causing both their second and third teams to scratch their matches.

With captain Dan Belt out, vice-skipper Jon Legg took the reins and opted to bowl first after winning the toss.

Dorchester had the Foxes at 19-2 as Billy Baker (1-26) and Rob Nobbs (2-36) dismissed attacking opening pair Wes Lewis (0) and Luke King (6).

Ollie Nicholas (37) and Reuben Kingston (23) gave some resistance in a 42-run stand until Simon Mitchem (1-17) pinned the former lbw.

Gautham Rajendar (3-34) worked away while Legg (2-28) dismissed big-hitting pair Steve Tucker (0) and Sam Good (24).

Only a fine 39 not out from Ollie Legg dragged the Foxes to a defendable score of 169-9 as the visitors denied Dorchester maximum bowling points.

Dorchester’s task was made more difficult when seamer George Wyrill (3-43) made a crucial double breakthrough, Jim Ryall (4) and Ben Macklin (0) both falling to leave the hosts on 7-2.

Mitchem (13) and Rajendar (10) then departed as Dorchester were checked at 61-4.

However, up stepped Jamie Barrett (50) and Legg (43) with gritty knocks to get Dorchester within touching distance of victory with an 83-run partnership.

Although they both perished shy of the winning line, Nobbs (8), Brandon King (10no) and Baker (1no) all contributed late on to steer Dorchester home with 19 balls remaining.

Speaking to Echosport, Legg said: “Pretty strong all-round performance, everyone contributed well in the field to restrict them to 169 and a couple of good partnerships with the bat got us over the line.”

On Dorchester’s title fight, Legg admitted the equation is the same.

“Nothing changes for us,” he said. “We need to win and we need Poole to slip up against Sherborne.”

On Saturday, Dorchester visit Bere Regis in their pivotal final fixture, with Poole hosting Sherborne (both 1pm).