NSA Dorset

Division Two

WAREHAM 103 (1pt) lost to WEYMOUTH II 104-0 (20pts) by 10 wickets

TEENAGE cricketer Dan Belt is set to become one of the youngest ever players to represent Wey-mouth's first team.

The highly-rated 14-year-old, who has just signed a sponsorship deal with Southampton-based kit suppliers, Holt and Haskell, played himself into contention with a wonderful display of pace bowling for the Seasiders' second string against Wareham at Redlands.

Belt, a pupil at Dorchester's Thomas Hardye School, proved almost unplayable during a devastating spell that

yielded six wickets from seven overs.

Exploits

And while first team skipper Hugh Lawes might have been 40 miles away leading his table-topping Premier Division outfit to victory at Stalbridge, he received a blow by blow account of Belt's exploits from seconds' captain Hugh Bowden.

Lawes said: "Dan is one of the best young cricketers I've seen for many, many years and he has fantastic potential as both a bowler and batsman.

"Performances like this one really doesn't surprise me and he's knocking very loudly on the first team door.

"The great thing about Dan, and many of our other young prospects, is that he's prepared to listen to advice and work hard at his game. Discipline is vital in cricket and the lad certainly has plenty of it."

He added: "Dan comes from a cricketing family with dad Ian being a highly respected local player and that obviously helps. In my opinion, he's got what it takes to go all the way and his destiny is very much in his own hands."

Impossible

Having won the toss, Bowden had no hesitation in asking Wareham to bat on a cold and blustery afternoon.

And with Belt in blistering form at one end, and veteran Rod Hansford

(3-22), equally impressive at the other, the visitors found it impossible to set a challenging total.

They soon collapsed to 103 all out with Seasiders'

wicketkeeper Jim Ryall claiming three breath

taking stumpings. Ryall then did his bit with the bat, sharing in a match-winning unbroken opening stand of 104 with another of Weymouth's talented teenagers, Tom England.

The gloveman played patently in a knock of 38, while his young partner found the boundary six times during a glorious innings of 56.

Lawes added: "Tom England's another lad who's got all the makings of a very fine cricketer and his batting has come on in leaps and bounds this season.

"Like Dan, Tom's making the first team selectors sit up and take notice and that can only bode well for the future of the club."