DORCHESTER 127-4 (20pts) beat CATTISTOCK & SYMENE 126 (3pts) by six wickets

DORCHESTER kept up the pressure on Wessex Internet Dorset Premier League leaders Wimborne Town and Poole Town with a six-wicket victory at the Rec.

Cattistock & Symene were Dorchy’s latest victims and, in truth, it was a simple win for Jon Legg’s men even after they had lost the toss and were invited to field.

The Foxes stumbled to 32-6 as James Dunham (2-20) celebrated his 30th birthday in style by removing openers Wes Lewis (2) and Luke King (0), the latter dismissed by a smart stumping from Jim Ryall.

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Cattistock & Symene did not help themselves as Leo Gurd (2) and Jason Bradley (13) were run out, either side of Dan Belt bowling Ollie Nicholas (1).

And, when Belt bowled Sam Good (0), the Foxes were staring at an embarrassing total.

Were it not for the determined innings of Steve Tucker (30) and Ollie Legg (27), both scoring just below one per ball, the visitors would have been skittled for under 100.

Kiwi all-rounder Harry Jones (2-28) removed both batters in quick succession but the away tail wagged as George Foot scored eight playing against his former club.

Number 11 batter George Wyrill struck 15 from 13 balls, including two boundaries and a six, but Belt (4-24) removed both players to end the innings on 126 all out.

Dorchester barely broke out of second gear in the chase, skipper Jon Legg (21) and Sathiya Narasimhan sharing 57 before Robin Jones (1-46) prevented Legg from making a big score against his old club.

Narasimhan (55) did, however, as he chalked up his second half-century of the season before perishing to a Wyrill catch off King.

Dorchester were just 11 runs short of victory at that point but King (3-5) bowled superbly to gain another bowling point for the Foxes, adding the scalps of Jamie Barrett (12) and Jones (0).

However, Simon Mitchem (2no) and Gautham Rajendar (8no) piloted Dorchy home without further alarm to secure their 14th successive home win and a fifth victory in seven games this season.

Speaking to Echosport, Dorchester’s Jon Legg said: “The Rec has become a bit of a fortress, which is good.

“It was pretty straightforward, they elected to bat when conditions were overcast and humid.

“Thankfully, our quick bowlers made the most of the conditions, leaving a nice total to chase down which we did with relative ease.

“The way the bowlers performed is what pleased me the most. This weekend we’re playing Wimborne which is a huge game for us to see where we’re at as a team.

“Get a result there and I can see us chasing the leaders down.”

Elsewhere, Dorchester Seconds lost to Shillingstone by two wickets in County Division Three.