CATTISTOCK & SYMENE 136 (4pts) lost to BERE REGIS 137-4 (20pts) by six wickets

BERE Regis cruised past Cattistock & Symene by six wickets to take their fifth victory of the Wessex Internet Dorset Premier League season.

The twenty points gained keep Bere well in touch for as title push as the season nears its halfway point.

Brian Keegan’s men currently occupy fourth spot, three behind third-placed Dorchester after their loss to Wimborne. The Minstermen in turn enjoy a 28-point cushion to Bere.

Keegan won the toss and elected to field on a testing pitch that, at times, misbehaved.

READ MORE: Bere Regis beat Blandford by 54 runs

He was immediately vindicated as left-arm seamer Rob Murphy (2-34) had Wes Lewis (0) caught behind off the first ball.

New signing Adam Raymond (1-25) then bagged his first Premier League wicket for the club, pinning Ollie Nicholas (4) lbw before Murphy snuck one through the defences of Jason Bradley (17).

Cattistock countered in typical fashion with the belligerence of captain Steve Tucker, but he was powerless to prevent Leo Gurd’s timbers being rustled by Sean Walbridge (4-25) for just eight.

Tucker’s big-hitting, incorporating seven fours and three sixes into his knock, pushed him to his half-century after the Foxes reached 100.

However, the wily Walbridge eventually had him caught by Sam Goodhew and the hosts’ innings crumbled quickly thereafter.

Going from 110-4, the Foxes lost their next six wickets for just 26 runs as spinners Walbridge and Sam Goodhew (3-25) proved their worth again.

In reply, Bere found the batting conditions tough as Rich Cole (16) and Goodhew (9) fell to Robin Jones and Ethan Robertson (1-29) respectively.

Pete Russell then battened down the hatches, scoring 23 from 93 balls as he gave Cam Robertson the platform to accumulate at his usual brisk pace.

Robertson stormed to his fifty and reached 65, smacking seven fours and three sixes, before he was caught by Tucker off Jones just two runs short of victory.

To their credit, Cattistock & Symene claimed a second bowling point as Jones (3-31) then removed Russell but a wide edged Bere over the winning line in anti-climactic fashion.

Speaking to Echosport, Keegan said: “We couldn’t have started any better. First ball, Murph got the wicket.

“Adam, making his debut, bowled well and then spin came in. Sean and Sam, between the two of them, they in effect won us the game.

“When it came to the reply, Pete and Cam batted well. Pete got 23, he basically anchored the innings and Cam got 65.

“We managed to lose two wickets within two runs of winning, so a six-wicket win is good but it could’ve been eight quite easily.”

Bere Regis Seconds beat Winton by four wickets in County Division Three.