Seasiders sail past Beaminster to go second

WEYMOUTH 198-5 (17pts) beat BEAMINSTER 194-5 (6pts) by five wickets

A FIVE-WICKET win for Weymouth over Beaminster has seen the Seasiders move to second on the Division One ladder, making next weekend’s fixture against leaders Corfe Mullen a top-of-the-table clash.

The win over Beaminster was set up by a disciplined bowling effort that kept their opponents to 194-5 and closed out by fifties from opener Russ Haylock and number four Kieron Womble.

Beaminster made the hosts toil on a warm day at Redlands, with Jack Handford and Ben Golledge working their way through the opening spells of Lloyd Beals and Danish Ahmad.

Handford and Golledge put on 47 before Shafeek Urumancheri (1-29) delivered the first wicket of the day, with the leg-spinner trapping Golledge (14) on the pad to end a solid opening stand.

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Neil Walton (1-31) and Harry Mitchell (1-53) then picked up a wicket each to reduce the visitors to 68-3. Handford was the next to fall when Beals was reintroduced, with the opener adjudged lbw to end a patient knock of 39.

With the score at 102-4 and less than 15 overs remaining Adam Moss became the driving force of the Beaminster innings, combining with skipper Ross Baker (26) to put on a brisk 67-run stand.

Beals (2-35) dismissed Baker inside the final five overs, with Moss (74no) ending the innings with a flurry of boundaries that included a six in the final over to get his team to 194-5.

Haylock and Jack Sapsworth opened up for the hosts but were separated early on when Handford (1-16) had Sapsworth caught at mid-wicket for one.

Walton walked to the crease with the score at 8-1 and was busy from the outset, with both batters able to find the boundary early on. The pair were humming along at better than five an over and put on 89 before spinner Ian Hutchings (1-34) had Walton caught behind for 44.

Womble and Haylock then put on 50 before Ben Fry returned to the attack to castle Haylock (60) with a ball that swung away late. Fry (2-56) repeated the dose with the following ball, with late swing again on show to get through the defence of Mark Gregory.

The double-strike gave some hope to the visitors, but Womble and Connor Wills put on 43 to get the hosts within one hit of a victory. Womble was stumped off the bowling of Jack Ronan (1-22) attempting to do just that, with Wills (14no) ending the match with a straight drive in the following over and securing the five-wicket win.

Weymouth captain Lloyd Beals shared his thoughts with Echosport after the match.

“The positives were the top order contributing big and killing the run chase early, Russ knocked all the steam out of Beaminster in the first 10 overs,” Beals said.

“Also, all the bowlers were superb. On the flattest pitch we’ll play on all year, that was offering them nothing, everybody remained disciplined.”

Beals also reflected on the first half of the season, as well as the match against ladder-leaders Corfe Mullen this weekend.

“It was a slow start (to the season), but we’ve had a consistent team all year,” Beals said.

“The commitment I’ve got from my core group of players has made my job easier. We understand each other's games inside out and back each other all the way.

“⁠I enjoy playing Corfe and their captain is a top bloke. They play aggressive cricket which is something the past few teams we’ve played lack. It will be a fresh challenge that we’re excited for.”

Weymouth Seconds played out another thriller against Blandford in round nine, losing by just one wicket despite the all-round efforts of Cube Whyte (51 & 2-33) and figures of 4-37 from Evan Green.

Despite winning only one of their last four matches they remain in second place, and will look to consolidate that position when they take on Martinstown Seconds at Redlands on Saturday (1pm).

Dorset Trade Skills man of the match: Russ Haylock