WEYMOUTH 236-5 (20pts) beat STURMINSTER & HINTON 125 (4pts) by 111 runs

WEYMOUTH moved one step closer to the County Division Two title with a comfortable 111-run triumph over Sturminster & Hinton at Redlands.

Following Corfe Mullen’s 33-run loss at Marnhull, Weymouth need 11 points at Cerne Valley on Saturday to win the league.

The Seasiders have theoretically confirmed promotion, although their fate rests with a restructuring of the Dorset League in 2024, following the awarding of ECB Premier League status.

With heavy rain on Friday evening, Sturminster & Hinton elected to bowl first after winning the toss.

READ MORE: Weymouth beat Charlton Down by 60 runs

The visitors bowled well with control and accuracy in restricting Weymouth to 87-3 by the 25th over, Mark Gregory (28), Tom England (27) and Ben Lawes (23) all producing gritty knocks on a tricky pitch.

Lloyd Beals (45) and Neil Walton (32) upped the run rate in the final 20 overs, scoring at just below a run per ball, but the star turn came from Tim Guyett.

The big-hitting left-hander launched three massive sixes and added a trio of boundaries to score his first half-century of the season, finishing unbeaten on 51 from 34 balls.

Jack Sapsworth (11no) hit the final ball of the innings for six as Weymouth posted a competitive 236-5 from their 45 overs.

Weymouth had little trouble in bowling Stur out as Beals (1-16) pinned Chris Reed (2) lbw for the breakthrough.

Jonny Armfield (3-11) and a Guyett run out quickly accounted for the next four wickets, including two lightning-fast stumpings by England as Stur fell to 37-5.

Walton then chipped in with 3-18, ousting Jason Tew for a well-made 33, and Fletcher Tarry (1-42) removed the powerful Henry Porter (13) as the Seasiders closed in on victory.

Fittingly, the final wicket was collected by Guyett (1-8) as England recorded his third stumping of the match to seal maximum points in style.

Speaking to Echosport, Beals said: “It’s half a job done and now we’ve got to do the other half.

“At the non-striker’s end I had a front-row seat to the Tim Guyett show, and boy was I entertained.

“Tim will be the first to admit he’s not had the return he’d probably have wanted this year but that is what he’s capable of, that’s why you constantly pick him. He can be a match-winner.

“From one to 11, we’ve had match-winners throughout the team and it was his turn, I take my hat off to him.”

On sealing a promotion place, subject to ratification, Beals added: “The committee has entrusted me as the pig farmer to bring home the bacon and currently we’re on course for that.

“Promotion was the main thing but now if we don’t win the league from here it’s someone else’s turn as captain!”

Weymouth Seconds made it a double celebration by winning the County Division Five title, beating Stalbridge Development by 95 runs.

Dorset Trade Skills man of the match: Tim Guyett