Dorchester beat Christchurch by eight wickets

DORCHESTER consolidated second place in the Dorset Premier League with a resounding eight-wicket win over Christchurch at Dorchester Rec.

Despite the maximum-point victory, Dan Belt’s men face an identical title situation to that posed before the game.

Current leaders Poole beat Bere Regis by eight wickets and Wimborne & Colehill also claimed the full 20 points after thrashing Sherborne by 169 runs.

With just three games remaining, Poole lead the table with 270, with Dorchester (263) and Wimborne & Colehill (261) ensuring the top three is covered by only nine points.

READ MORE: Dorchester take crucial win over Wimborne

Dorchester’s win will go down as one of their easiest of the season, despite having been asked to field first in stifling conditions.

Dan Belt bowled an exceptional spell of 1-5 from his ten overs, including the wicket of Liam Bowater (0) and complete with six maidens.

While Belt created pressure at one end, James Dunham removed James Bingham (4) and Gareth Williams (3) at the other.

James Cross (3) was then run out in the same over as Bowater departed and Christchurch were in trouble at 36-4.

Jy Taylor (33) and Thomas Hughes (28) struck 12 boundaries between them before the recalled Billy Baker (3-30) removed both and also accounted for Sam Jalim (3).

That left Christchurch 91-7, with spin finishing the visitors off as Jon Legg (1-7) ousted Dylan Rees-Coshan (0).

Christchurch’s tail wagged as Henry Hayes hit 15 from 11 balls and Adam Coshan 12 from 14 but they both fell victim to Jamie Barrett (2-16) as Dorchester dismissed the away side for 124.

Dorchester only lost two wickets in reply as Jim Ryall (4) and Simon Mitchem (9) fell cheaply to Hayes (1-17) and Hughes (1-28).

However, Seb Carty – one of Dorchester’s stars of the season – helped his side to a simple victory.

The opener cracked 71 not out from 67 balls, including ten fours, to take the county town side home with Mike Peak (27no from 31) in 22 overs.

Speaking to Echosport, Belt said: “The boys did great. Getting an early win on a hot day, there’s nothing better than that.

“The boys know how to bowl in the right areas in these conditions to make the batters go out and hit the runs, rather than giving them the bad balls.

“Dots balls make pressure and big shots come, which provide the wickets. That was proved with me being economical and Dunham picking up wickets.”

On the title race, he added: “No changes so we’ll go again next week.

“We’ve got Sherborne which is not an easy game but we’ll go in with confidence and see what happens in the other games.”

Dorchester Seconds lost to Shillingstone by 83 runs in County Division Two.