SHROTON 216 (18pts) beat WEYMOUTH 214-7 (13pts) by two runs

IT WAS agony at Redlands for the Seasiders as they came within touching distance of ending their lengthy run without a win at home against Shroton.

The home side needed three from the final delivery of the contest to seal victory against the side who are now top of County Division One, but were left pondering what could have been after coming up just two runs short.

With the absence of all-rounder Simon Browne, who has mainly led the side this season, Dean Janaway took over as captain for the afternoon.

Speaking after the contest, he told Echosport: “We absolutely threw it away

“The three games we have lost this year we probably should have won really, we should have won two at least and we should have won that.

“We kind of won it, lost it and then lost it again. I’m gutted.”

Janaway made 63 and put on a solid stand with Kieron Womble, who top scored with 75 for the home side.

But the Seasiders’ skipper admitted if one of the duo had stayed at the crease to the end of the innings, Weymouth would have cruised home.

Janaway added: “We kicked on alright but one of us had to be there to see it through and not leave it to someone else.

“I got out and I sort of blame myself for it to be honest.

“One of us had to stay there to the end.

“It put everyone else under pressure really and we were out of it.

“Only some good hitting at the end from Marco Nott, Paul Webb and Pete Gordon got us close.”

Shroton’s Marc Doble was the pick of the away side’s attack. He removed three of the Weymouth top four to return figures of 3-51 from nine overs bowled.

Earlier in the day, there were positives for the Seasiders as opening bowlers Neil Walton and Graham Puckett both claimed three wickets apiece to help restrict Shroton to 216 – a score which looked like an achievable target at the interval.

Shroton’s Tony Wooldridge was the only man in the away side to reach 50 before he was dismissed for 55, there was also 46 for Keiron Dunsieth.

In reply, it was just not to be for Weymouth, as they succumbed to their third loss of the campaign and now occupy fourth spot in County Division One.

They are just six points behind Shroton in the division, however, the league leaders do have a game in hand.