SHILLINGSTONE 187-7 (20pts) beat WEYMOUTH SECONDS 163 (7pts) by 24 runs

MICHAEL Pearce was left reflecting on another missed opportunity after Weymouth Seconds fell just 24 runs short against second-placed Shilling-stone at Redlands .

The Seasiders, still searching for their first victory in Dorset League Division Two, restricted the visitors to 187-7 but were unable to knock off the runs despite a much-improved batting performance, which saw the returning Jonny Armfield top score with 48.

Skipper Pearce led by example for the hosts by picking up 3-26 from 12 overs but he still held himself partly responsible for the defeat due to a dropped catch.

He told Echosport: “The two lads that got the bulk of Skillingstone’s runs batted really well and showed their experience although I did drop one of them when he was on 20, which was probably the turning point. “Had I held that chance it would have resulted in us chasing 145, which may have proved a completely different story.

“It was a good effort from some of our batsmen, particularly from Jonny in what was his first game back with the club, but unfortunately it was not quite enough.”

Weymouth could not have got off to a better start with the ball, reducing Shillingstone to 20-4, but then Ian Paulley (88) and Ben Andrews (53) came together and completely shifted the momentum.

The two experienced batsmen dug in and, with a little Lady Luck, soon started to make in-roads in the home attack as they went on to compile a superb fifth-wicket stand of 143.

Cameron Armfield (3-42) eventually broke the partnership but the damage had been done as the Seasiders were faced with a challenging target of 187, which had been bolstered by 30 extras.

In desperate need of a confident start to their reply, Weymouth must have feared the worst when opener Ryan Monk fell for a duck early on.

But Andy Jarvis (14) soon started to show his class and along with Jonny Armfield began to get the hosts moving in the right direction. Jarvis then departed but that brought Cameron Armfield (14) to the crease and he showed a great understanding with his brother to push the score into three figures.

In fact, at 118-3, Weymouth were looking on course but Stuart Antell (6-44) then came on and turned the tables by dismissing the siblings and ripping the heart out of the middle order.

Pearce (15) put up some resistance in a desperate bid to see his side home but in the end Shillingstone got the wickets they needed to skittle their luckless opponents for 163, despite giving them 52 extras.