BLANDFORD 200 WEYMOUTH 32-2 – match abandoned due to rain

WEYMOUTH’S hopes of picking up crucial points at Blandford Rec got washed away by heavy downpours.

Following the previous week’s opening day defeat against Poole Town, the Seasiders had set their sights on kick-starting their season with a morale-boosting victory in North Dorset but after bowling their opponents out for 200, a thunderstorm brought a premature end to proceedings.

Rob Nobbs (4-53), Matt Lawes (2-29), Faraz Ulhaz (2-38) and Simon Browne (2-35) took wickets at regular intervals for the visitors but an alarming tally of 58 extras enabled Blandford to set a testing target.

Seasiders’ skipper Paul Payne said: “We won the toss and stuck them in and when we put the ball in the right place we did really well.

“It was pleasing to skittle a side out and it was also great to see us take all our chances in the field. However, we gave away 58 extras with 47 of them being wides, which left us chasing 200 instead of 150 or 160, and that is something we will need to address before our next game.”

Blandford quickly snapped up the wickets of Payne (5) and Jonny Armfield (1) to leave the Seasiders’ reply reeling on 20-2.

But with Dean Janaway (19no) well set and the experienced Jim Ryall (6no) at the crease Weymouth were still confident of chasing down their target until the rain came in the 11th over giving the umpires no choice but to bring the clash to a halt.

Payne added: “The pitch was fine but we had to come off after nine overs with the score on 32-2 due to thunder and lightning.

“We then tried to go back out but there was no way we could carry on and the game was abandoned.

“Our matches against Blandford always tend to be close and this one was shaping up to be no different, and both sides were clearly disappointed afterwards as it was an opportunity to pick up some points.

“However, there is nothing you can do about the weather and all we can do now is build on the positives and take them into our next game.”