WEYMOUTH 203-8 (19pts) beat BLANDFORD 200-8 (12pts) by three runs

ROB Nobbs was the toast of Redlands as Weymouth secured their first Dorset Premier League win of the season.

The medium pacer showed nerves of steel as his side beat Blandford by three runs in a last-ball thriller.

Needing six to win off the final over, the visitors fell four runs short of their target thanks to an excellent closing salvo by Nobbs.

The youngster made light of the pressure despite sending down a wide with his opening delivery.

But while the Seasiders celebrated at stumps, Blandford only had themselves to blame for snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.

At 106-1 after 35 overs, there was only one winner – a fact that injured Weymouth captain David Trotter, who watched from the sidelines, was quick to concede.

He said: “I think it’s fair to say that Blandford looked the likely winners throughout their reply.

“However, credit to our lads for the way they stuck to their task and never gave up hope.

“That last over by Rob was fantastic but the whole team played its part and it was one of the best games I’ve seen at Redlands for years.”

Having lost the toss on a typically green-tinged early season surface, Weymouth were soon in trouble having been put into bat.

Dean Janaway (5) was unlucky to play on to a Aaron Day delivery although the bowler himself was unfortunate to claim just one scalp during a fine spell which saw him concede just 18 runs from 10 overs.

Acting skipper Jim Ryall (41) and Sean Fitzgerald (32) repaired the damage with a stand of 78.

Andy Bray (47) kept the momentum going while Tom England (16) and Cube Whyte (20no) chipped in to help the Seasiders to a respectable 203-8.

Blandford’s reply was a mirror image as Luke Carter (1) fell cheaply before 16-year-old Aaron Kendrick (43) and Alex White (57) got things back on track. And Dan Brockway then completed a fine all-round dispay with a hard hit 49 to add to the three wickets he had taken earlier.

Aside from that it was all bits and pieces for the North Dorset side with no one else in their middle to lower order able to dominate a spirited Weymouth bowling attack led superbly by Dan Hutchens (1-27).

Despite this, they remained clear favourities to take the spoils until Nobbs stepped up to the plate with that brilliant last-gasp effort.

In his penultimate over, the ex-Bridport man had claimed the wickets of Shane Hannam and Day with Stuart Robbins then departing run out off the final ball of the game.

Trotter added: “It was nerve- wracking enough watching so goodness knows what it was like for Rob.

“But he coped with the situation well and, in the end, we thoroughly deserved the win.

“What was nice was that the boys were being cheered on from the boundary by all the second and third team players who had returned from their games.

“Both teams had good wins and so it was a great hat-trick day for the club, and great to get our Premier challenge off and running.”

WEYMOUTH

Ryall c Brockway b Sawney 41

Janaway b Day 5

Fitzgerald c White b Brockway 3

Bray run out 47

Mote lbw Brockway 3

England c Carter b Trowbridge 16

Ulhaq c Sawney b K Robbins 6

Fulton b Brockway 6

Whyte not out 20

Hutchens not out 3

Extras (b6 lb2 w13 nb1) 22

Total (50 overs, 8 wkts) 203

FoW: 15, 2-83, 3-94, 4-98, 5-141, 6-167, 7-172, 8-188

Bowling: Day 10-5-18-1, Thomas 9-2-33-0, K Robbins 6-0-35-1, Sawney 10-1-41-1 Brockay 9-1-40-3 Trowbridge 6-1-28-1

BLANDFORD

Carter c Janaway b Nobbs 1

Kendrick c Janaway b Ulhaq 43

White run out 57

Brockway c Nobbs b Fulton 47

Sawney b Hutchens 0

Hannam b Nobbs 15

Day b Nobbs 0

S Robbins run out 10

Thomas not out 1

Extras (lb4 w18 nb2) 24

Total (50 overs, 8 wkts) 200

FoW: 1-2, 2-11, 3-133, 4-137, 5-175, 6-175, 7-198, 8-200

Bowling: Hutchens 10-2-27-1, Nobbs 10-1-42-3, Fulton 10-1-40-1, Whyte 10-0-38-0, Ulhaq 6-0-28-1, Fitzgerald 4-0-21-0