One of the most pleasing aspects of this comprehensive defeat of our Dorset neighbours were the comments from the boundary – what a fine team, don’t they field well, quality bowling and batting, if only we played like this. The under 21s were the total opposite of their early performance against Dorset in that they were a very exciting unit to watch in all departments whereas at Weymouth they looked sadly disjointed. This was in spite of a number of players feeling under the weather and not feeling 50% let alone 100%. The day started badly when Jack Porter reported unwell which was not a surprise as he had put on a brave face the previous two days with the sixteen’s. This enabled Gary Chappell to make his first appearance, he had been pencilled in as one of the side’s spinners but a school trip to Barbados had ruled him out of contention. Dorset won the toss and batted which suited the home side’s captain Aaron Williams who had already decided he wanted to bat second. Opener Dyson, who had been undefeated at Weymouth, fell in the fourth over to a ball he considered unplayable from Parker. After a fine spell from Adam Parker and Tom Allin, Ross Acton and Scott Barlow entered the attack, both continued the pressure with Acton having House in all sorts of trouble playing and missing. House and Park took the score up to 53 in seventeen overs when House was held by Richard Tucker off Scott Barlow. Barlow, with Williams help then took the key wicket of Park who had been the major hindrance in the first game three runs later. It became 84-5 after twenty-nine overs when first  Acton received some reward by bowling Watkins and Belt caught behind by Watkin off Allin who had been brought on to take wickets. Twenty-five was added for the sixth wicket with spinners Gary Chappell and Matt Cooke bowling in tandem with their first six overs going at just over two and a half. Cooke removed the opposition’s captain, Tweddle, with yet another fine catch this time by Allin. Arshad, who scored a hundred the next day against Cornwall and under 17 player Armstong took the score up to 137 when Armstong was well held by Luke Bess at long off the returning Adam Parker. Dorset lost two wickets at 141 when Parker had Adshed caught behind by the now standing up Watkin and Grainger’s direct underarm ran out the younger Lawes, on his only ball, at the bowlers end. As in the Weymouth game an annoying tenth wicket partnership then took shape, last time it had been Devon’s Cooke and Barlow this time it was Dorset’s Park and Wilson who put on an unbeaten 35 at a run a ball. Still 176 -9 was acceptable with Seaton in an outstanding condition and the outfield lightning. Josh Bess and a very unwell Nick Watkin beat by four the highest opening partnership of the season when Bess was caught for a 47 ball 25.                      

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