Weymouth beat Compton House by 122 runs

ALL-ROUND performances from Neil Walton and Lloyd Beals have lifted Weymouth to their third win on the bounce, with the Seasiders defeating Compton House by 122 runs.

An undermanned Compton House team put in a game fight with bat and ball, but Weymouth’s total of 275-8 proved to be a bridge too far as they were bowled out for 153.

That total looked a long way away when Weymouth fell to 31-3 early on in the day, with House openers Thomas Johnson (1-44), Joel Enticott (2-57) and spinner Alfie Reynolds (1-44) taking one each to put pressure on the hosts.

Walton and Tom England (20) knuckled down, particularly against a tight nine-over spell from Hugh Tatham (0-32). The pair put on 85 vital runs before England was dismissed by young pacer Kyle Woolmington (1-40). 

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Walton had reached his fifty by this point and was starting to go up through the gears, hitting some lovely lofted shots down the ground. Seamer Warren Day (1-36) had the last laugh however, with Walton holing out to deep mid-on for a well-made 85 from 78 balls.

The score was 160-5 at this point, with Beals not out on 15. When his innings came to an end off the bowling off Puneet Kamboj (2-5) in the last over he had moved to a sparkling 92 from 55 balls. His blitz included 14 boundaries, bringing the score above 270 and the momentum into his team’s favour.

Compton House made a steady start with the bat, with Day and Michael Harper seeing off openers Beals and Adam Hoyes.

Once again Weymouth were unable to take early wickets, but the dot-ball pressure generated saw leg-spinner Shafeek Urumancheri (1-20) clean bowl Harper early in his spell. The ever-reliable Walton also struck early, with the first-change pair turning 33-0 into 36-2 in the blink of an eye.

Day (47) and Giles Reynolds (51) did not relent however, the pair putting on 74 for the third wicket. Day struck a lovely boundary straight back over the head of off-spinner Cube Whyte (1-27) but undid his good work the next ball when he was bowled going for a reverse-sweep just three short of his fifty.

Walton (4-30) was reintroduced and claimed Reynolds’ wicket with a sharp catch off his own bowling to put his side further in front. He would go on to claim two more wickets, as did Beals (2-14), before a run-out from ‘keeper Connor Wills wrapped up the 122-run win for the hosts.

Both of Compton House’s innings began with promise, but they lacked the late-order hitting or a frontline fifth bowler to match it with the hosts on the day. Being one short in the field also made matters more difficult, but they put in a hearty effort from start to finish.

Weymouth captain Lloyd Beals spoke to Echosport after the match.

“There seems to be a bit more belief in the team, it was certainly a slow start to the season, but we’ve been in control of all five matches, just the last three games we’ve maintained control,” Beals said.

“⁠The comeback from there (when the score was 31-3), spearheaded by Neil Walton, was destructive. From over 30 onwards it was an onslaught, I took over the mantle from ‘Wally’ after he got out. 

“The pitch was the best I’ve seen it for years, Harry Mitchell spent hours on it and I’m so happy for him that he's finally contributed to a win. He’s been desperate to contribute.”

The Seasiders’ first team will travel to Beaminster for their next assignment, while the undefeated second team will look to back up last week’s nine-wicket win over Cheselbourne when they face Blandford on Saturday.

Dorset Trade Skills man of the match: Neil Walton.