WEYMOUTH 245-8 (25pts) beat WIMBORNE 134 (6pts) by 111 runs

HIS nickname might be Binman, but there was nothing trashy about Dave Pearce's contribution to Weymouth's crushing

victory over Wimborne at Redlands.

The stand-in skipper led by example as the Seasiders boosted their title hopes with a second successive maximum 25-point haul.

Pearce, who wore the captain's armband in place of the unavailable Hugh Lawes, smashed an unbeaten 67 as his side set their opponents a daunting target of 246 on probably the hottest day of the summer so far.

He followed up by rotating his bowlers sensibly in the field as the visitors wilted to 134 all out with brother Michael claiming four wickets for only six runs.

The afternoon began perfectly for the Seasiders with Dave Pearce winning the toss and electing to bat. And it was a decision that was quickly justified as Dorset pair Jim Ryall and Dean Janaway (14) put on 49 for the first wicket.

When Janaway departed it was Ben Lawes (15) who took up the gauntlet and he looked set for a big score before falling to Zimbabwean all-rounder Andre Hoffman.

Ryall meanwhile was playing a patient innings at the other end, reaching the boundary rope eight times in an 84-ball half century.

However, the wicketkeeper was only able to add a further five runs before losing his middle stump to Andy Day and that sparked a mini collapse with Weymouth slipping from 132-2 to 182-7.

First to go was Paul Payne (6), followed by Tommy England (6), with Chris Knight and Dan Belt only managing two runs each.

But through it all, Pearce remained defiant, and the beefy right-hander rarely looked troubled as he passed 50 off 106 balls.

He then found the perfect partner in New Zealander Glen Dawson who came in the fall of the seventh wicket. The unlikely combination wracked up 42 runs to take Weymouth's total beyond 200 with the Kiwi clubbing an impressive 31.

Dawson was soon in the thick of it again as the Seasiders began their defence in the best way possible.

The ultra accurate quickie left Wimborne reeling with two early wickets including the prized scalp of Hoffman for a duck.

David Trotter (10-5-17-0) bowled quite beautifully without reward but when he and Dawson had taken their sweaters, the visitors threatened to get back into the contest.

The introduction of Knight and Belt soon put paid to that notion with the pair picking up dangermen Pete Triniman (32) and Ed Steele (40), respectively.

Knight went on to bag another two victims during an excellent spell of medium pace, but it was the late introduction of Michael Pearce that made it game, set and match.

He simply blew Wimborne's tail apart leaving them 111 runs shy of their requirement when the tenth wicket fell.

Captain Dave Pearce said: "The boys really dug in and grafted hard today and they got their just rewards against a decent side. On paper this looked like a very tough game for us but we came through in great style.

"Winning the toss was a big bonus and Jim Ryall gave us just the sort of platform we needed to go on and record a big score. I would have been happy with 200 and so 245 was excellent and that total had much to do with Glen Dawson who batted superbly."

He added: "I was confident it was a score we'd defend and getting Hoffman out for a duck was a big help. The new ball partnership of Glen and David Trotter put so much pressure on the batting team and Trotts was just different class again.

"Chris and Belty then did an excellent back up job and the rest was down to Michael who bowled with real guile and aggression.

"The fielding was good with Tommy England taking a wonderful catch and if we can continue in this vein of form then we've got every chance of catching Poole at the top of the table."