CORFE MULLEN 178 (7pts) lost to CERNE VALLEY 179-4 (20pts) by six wickets

CERNE Valley recorded their first win of the County Division Two season with a six-wicket success at Corfe Mullen.

On a tricky artificial wicket, Cerne were put into the field.

Cerne’s opening bowlers, in particular Pearce Mercer (1-20 off six overs), made it difficult for the Corfe openers to score with the pace generated on the plastic surface.

Eventually, it was Miles Quick (3-47) who secured the breakthrough, dismissing Richard Witherington for a duck, with only 21 runs on the board.

Regular wickets fell from there on in with no established partnerships created.

The only standout batsman, Dan Flooks (60), was dismissed by young off-spinner Sam Downey (3-28).

Corfe’s resistance lasted 38 overs and the total of 178 against a side who had not won all season must have seemed respectable.

READ MORE: Shaftesbury pip Cerne in late drama

In reply, Cerne’s experienced opening batsman John Stiles (61), deservingly the man of the match, and Russ Hurford (21), built the foundations for the rest of the batsmen to follow with a 72-run opening partnership.

Mercer (13) boosted Cerne’s hope of a first win but it was Craig and the returning Neil Kellaway, unbeaten on 21 and 22 respectively, who saw Cerne over the finishing line, with a rugged and determined show of batting.

Commenting on the momentum-building win, Cerne skipper George Chubb was ecstatic about the performance and his team’s refusal to lose hope.

He said: “There were some great performances out there, including the impressive John and the returning Neil.

“It is so pleasing to see Neil back playing and enjoying his cricket and we hope to see more of him.

“Overall, it was a great team effort and if we can maintain this standard of cricket and get our best team out each week, we will climb up the league.”

Tomorrow (1.30pm) Cerne Valley next entertain Shillingstone, who will want to bounce back after a 78-run defeat to Poole Town Seconds last time out.