STURMINSTER & HINTON 237-7 (20pts) beat WEYMOUTH 234-7 (9pts)

WEYMOUTH were stunned by County Division Two strugglers Sturminster & Hinton, who moved off the foot of the table with a shock three-wicket win.

It means Lloyd Beals suffered his first defeat as skipper, having missed the reverses against Sherborne Seconds and Charlton Down.

Despite the result, Weymouth remain in fourth place but the Seasiders now know they can ill afford another slip up if they are to clinch one of the two promotion spots.

After winning the toss and batting first, Beals and fellow opener Fletcher Tarry made watchful progress to 18-0 from nine overs.

READ MORE: Charlton Down beat Weymouth by eight wickets 

Beals (41) then cut loose after Tarry (13) lifted a return catch to Laurence Moore (1-33), hitting three sixes and three boundaries.

However, he lost his off-stump bail to William Tremlett (1-29) lining up another big hit and Jack Sapsworth (2) was bowled by Thomson Joseph (1-45) attempting a slog sweep.

Neil Walton (21) was next to go, cutting Bertie Hebburn-Heath to Tremlett at slip via the pads of the wicketkeeper, before Connor Wills (7) was bowled by sharp turn from Alan James (2-31).

Weymouth had barely reached treble figures but the returning Kieron Womble boosted their score with a wonderful 98 not out.

Stur’s fielding and bowling also capitulated in warm conditions, with numerous catches going down and several fumbles for four on the boundary edge.

One incredible catch was taken by the hosts, however, as Neil Sweatman slipped over and somehow grabbed a skier one-handed to oust Laurence Tonkin (4).

But Womble ruthlessly dismissed a littany of poor balls in his 75-delivery innings, just falling short of his century in the final over as Weymouth posted a competitive 234-7 from 45 overs.

However, Weymouth were once again punished for a lack of menace in the middle overs despite Sapsworth snaffling a simple catch presented by Aj Rose (5) off Adam Hoyes (2-35).

The hosts threatened to run away with the victory as Chris Reed played superbly well, sweeping and flicking his way to 65 before shanking a catch to Womble off Jackson Jose (1-28).

His partner, Moore, resorted to attack after breaking down in the heat and reached 50 with a succession of crisp fours down the ground.

Weymouth needed wickets badly and opened the door late on as Walton (4-42) returned to have Moore (50) stumped by Wills.

The all-rounder then bowled three more opponents, including the powerful Hebburn-Heath (42), to leave Weymouth needing four more scalps with 40 runs to play with.

Hoyes took his second victim to add further intrigue but the visitors ran out of options as Henry Porter (18no) and Tremlett (10no) finished with a flourish to seal only their second win of the season, moving into ninth of the ten teams.

In County Division Five, Weymouth Seconds beat Stalbridge Development by four wickets.

Dorset Trade Skills man of the match: Kieron Womble