WEYMOUTH 136-6 (19pts) beat CORFE MULLEN 133 (5pts) by four wickets

WEYMOUTH recorded their first win of the County Division One season with a four-wicket win over Corfe Mullen at Redlands.

The match was reduced to 40 overs a side, and despite the grim forecast a gripping match was played out across the day.

Corfe Mullen posted a competitive score of 133 all out batting first, but late cameos from Tim Guyett (27) and Lloyd Beals (18no) saw the home side over the line.

Once again, the momentum of the match swung back and forth regularly, with Corfe looking confident at 41-0 before leg-spinner Shafeek Urumancheri dismissed dangerman Sam Stroud (29) early in his spell.

READ MORE: Weymouth lose to Wimborne Seconds by four wickets

Neil Walton (4-21) took the catch to remove Stroud, and went on to take the next four wickets to reduce the visitors to 63-5. Urumancheri (2-22) took another soon after, leaving Corfe Mullen 71-6 and at risk of not reaching three figures.

Stylish left-hander Sean Mulley (32) came to the crease at this point and played an important knock but fell victim to the bowling of Guyett (3-21) in the pursuit of quick runs at the end. Guyett took the last wicket with three balls remaining in the final over, giving the Seasiders a target of 134 to chase down.

Kieron Womble (27) got the hosts off to a fast start, despite losing opening partner Mark Gregory to a yorker from Stroud (1-38) early in the piece. First change bowler Zeeshan Haider (2-26) drew false shots from Womble and Jack Sapsworth to turn the score from 44-1 to 50-3 in quick time.

Walton and number five Tom England struggled to get going early, especially from the tidy off-spin of Mulley (0-9 from eight overs). The watchful Walton (13) fell to Corfe captain Nigel Stannard to make the score 78-4 and put the match on a knife edge.

With the required run rate climbing, Weymouth promoted Guyett up the order, with the left-hander striking three fours and a six in his 24-ball innings.

England (24) was able to up the ante as well, and with the help of Beals and Connor Wills (5no) the hosts closed out their first victory of the season with nine balls to spare.

Weymouth skipper Lloyd Beals said he was pleased to notch up a win after missing out in crucial moments across the first two rounds.

“That was a battle from start to finish and everyone dug in to get the job done. It’s always good to get the first one over the line,” Beals said.

“The only change this week was we came out on top when it came down to the crunch. All three games have ebbed and flowed, this time we seized the initiative and got the job done.”

Corfe Mullen will play Portland on Saturday, while Weymouth visit Witchampton, a clash Beals is eyeing as an exciting challenge.

“(They’re the) reigning champs, it will be a tough game. I’m still waiting for us to start well with the ball, myself being the main improvement in the bowling department I’m after.”

Weymouth Seconds also picked up a win over the weekend, defeating Martinstown Seconds thanks to a man-of-the-match performance of 66 not out and 3-18 from Cube Whyte, plus a hat-trick and 5-16 from Pete Sapsworth.