SHILLINGSTONE 206 (11pts) lost to CATTISTOCK 228-7 (20pts) by 22 runs

CATTISTOCK took their second win of the season away at Shillingstone with a great performance in County Division Two.

Cattistock won the toss and decided to bat and were unlucky to lose Jonathan Legg on the fifth ball when the ball popped up and he was caught close into the wicket. Liam Toohill was sent in at three in a top order reshuffle as one player was delayed on his way to the match.

Martin Langford knocked four quick boundaries from some loose bowling before he was caught behind.

Toohill was able push on against the first change bowlers and brought up a 50 and the team’s 100 with a four before falling a few balls later.

In-form Steve Tucker joined Billy Wallbridge at the crease and they looked to work the spinners around and see them off.

The score had moved on to 162 when Wallbridge fell to the final ball of the spinners’ spell.

Tucker then looked to move things on and got to his second half-century of the season with a six over long on.

Bradley Damen struck a brisk 20 off eight balls including two sixes but was run out in the final over as Cattistock made 228-7.

Shillingstone started well in reply, picking up boundaries regularly until Brandon Ward flattened the opener’s leg stump.

This gave Cattistock an end to attack and tight bowling was rewarded, as Jonathan Legg got the vital wicket of the other opener and Bradley Damen and Bradley Mullins also took key wickets.

Langford took a superb catch behind off the bowling of Wallbridge, who also picked up the wicket of Shillingstone captain Tom House, who was batting well and keeping them up with the run rate.

Once House was gone the boundaries dried up, they surpassed 200 but Legg and Brad Mullins returned to mop up the tail as Shillingstone were bowled out for 206 in the final over.

Cattistock captain Jon Legg said: “After losing a couple early wickets we did well to recover and played well through the middle overs to give us a platform to launch from in the closing overs, Liam and Steve both batted brilliantly to get their half-centuries.

“Shillingstone did threaten to get away from us in the run chase, but we managed to tighten our bowling and the increased pressure brought us some wickets. All the bowlers bowled well, Brad Mullins fully deserving his three wickets.”