CERNE VALLEY 153-1 (21pts) beat KINGSTON LACY 152 (4pts) by nine wickets

CERNE Valley remain undefeated in County Division Three after hammering Kingston Lacy by nine wickets at the Simsay Oval.

Following a trend of batting second, Cerne won the toss and fielded first with opener bowler John Stiles (2-21) making a couple of early breakthroughs to leave Lacy on 22-2.

From here, Lacy started to rebuild with some powerful shots as Matt Holton and John Burns (35) shared 69.

However, it was George Chubb (0-23) and Mike Collinge (1-19) who steadied the ship and bowled a really tight line and length.

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When Burns departed, wickets fell regularly, although Holton (54) deservedly passed 50.

The introduction of George Wilkes and new recruit Simon Reeves (2-27) helped Cerne reduce Kingston to 152 all out. The pick of the bowlers was young leg-spinner Wilkes, whose 4-16 was thoroughly deserved.

Carrying on from where they left from the previous week, Stiles soon got into his rhythm during the reply and looked in control, playing some elegant shots that raced away to the boundary.

This included one six that raced down to fine-leg with a mere flick of the bat.

Tom Atkinson (38no) played the anchor role really well and Cerne were looking to record their second ten-wicket win in successive weeks until Stiles (89) was unexpectedly run out.

Russ Hurford scored the winning runs as Cerne won with 15.2 overs left.

Cerne captain Lloyd Mitchem told Echosport: “To win our first three games is really positive but it is a long season so we cannot get too carried away.

“We need to tighten up in a few areas but I definitely think we are only going to get stronger as a team as the season progresses.”

Cerne Valley faces a stern test against Broadstone Seconds at Delph Woods today (1.30pm).