WIMBORNE & COLEHILL 220 (8pts) lost to WEYMOUTH 191-7 (20pts) by three wickets on revised target

PAUL Payne hailed the character of his side after they pulled off an incredible last-ball victory against Wimborne & Colehill at Redlands.

The Weymouth skipper, acting as a runner for the injured Laurie ‘Cube’ Whyte, watched in admiration as Tom England hit 12 off the final three balls of the match to secure one of the most dramatic triumphs in the club’s history.

Speaking after the Dorset Premier League contest, Payne told Echo-sport: “Wimborne posted 220 and after a rain break we were set a revised target of 188 off 37 overs.

“We got off to a decent start and appeared to be cruising at one stage with the run-rate up to seven per over.

“However, we then lost a couple of quick wickets and got really bogged down in the middle, leaving us requiring 33 to win off the last three overs.

“That then became 24 off two and then 12 off the last over with Tommy and Cube at the crease.

“Cube had hurt his ankle earlier in the match so I was out there acting as his runner and to be honest it was just pandemonium.

“We got two runs and a leg bye off the first three balls and then Tommy hit a six off the fourth. We then ran two on the next leaving us on 187 with one delivery left.

“You cannot tie on a reduced overs game so we still needed another run and Tommy obliged with a four over mid-off, which also brought up his half-century.

“To take maximum points and win the game like we did was magnificent. The lads were all absolutely fantastic and we are just chuffed to bits.

“We are also all delighted for Tom-my because he has struggled in terms of availability and injuries in recent times.

“He has been through some big operations on his knee and to come back and produce the form he has shown so far this season is unbelievable.

“That is twice he has now carried us home this year and hopefully now as a team we can build on this and try and put a good run together.”

Although England proved the hero, it was also a fabulous first game of the season for the returning Whyte, who not only battled through the pain with the bat but also snared 2-19 off 10 overs.

The highlight of his spell was the dismissal of David Guest (4) who fell to a stunning one-handed catch in the slips by Dean Janaway.

Matt Lawes (3-45) and Rob Nobbs (3-48) also starred with the ball but a lot of credit also has to go to the Wimborne trio of Francis Kerins (39), Joe Weld (46) and Graham Cole (27) who ensured the visitors set a respectable target after stuttering at one stage on 101-4.

After a light downpour of rain, Payne (48), Ben Lawes (22) and England then got the Seasiders’ run chase off to a positive start.

However, nerves then set in as the hosts crashed from 108-3 to 168-7 with Ben Ratcliffe (3-55) and Ollie Bertrand (2-32) doing the majority of the damage.

With the run-rate having dropped dramatically, Wimborne suddenly looked on course to claim the spoils but they had clearly not accounted for England’s last-ditch display of stunning hitting, which will no doubt live long in the memory.