CERNE VALLEY 138 (3pts) lost to WEYMOUTH 125-1 (20) by nine wickets (DLS revised)

WEYMOUTH clinched the County Division Two title in style with a nine-wicket win over Cerne Valley.

Victory ensured Weymouth’s first team joined their seconds in winning a trophy, following their own triumph in Division Five last week.

Weymouth are theoretically set for promotion, although their exact placing for 2024 rests on a planned restructure of the Dorset League following the awarding of ECB Premier League status.

Weymouth won the toss and chose to bowl first with rain lurking around the Simsay Oval.

READ MORE: Weymouth Seconds beat Stalbridge Development to win Division Five title

The Seasiders made instant progress as Adam Hoyes (2-22) and Lloyd Beals (1-26) bagged three early wickets.

Cerne did respond in between rain arriving as Joe Message (31), Pearce Mercer (26) and skipper Lloyd Mitchem (42) all produced solid knocks.

However, the trio was dismissed by Harry Mitchell (3-32) and Cerne’s innings fell away to the spin of Fletcher Tarry (3-24) and Cube Whyte (1-30).

The hosts were dismissed for 138 but the intervening rain meant Weymouth only had to chase 125 from 33 overs based upon the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method.

Weymouth made good progress in their reply as Mark Gregory hit 28 from 35 balls before offering a catch to George Wilkes off the bowling of Craig Kellaway (1-34).

Weymouth were 51-1 but did not lose another wicket as the in-form Kieron Womble (45no) partnered Tommy England (44no).

The duo shared 74 in quick time to march Weymouth across the winning line and clinch title glory.

Speaking to Echosport, Weymouth captain Lloyd Beals said: “It was a pretty straightforward win, very professional to turn up and get the job done.

“I thought a few nerves might creep in or we’d get unlucky with the weather.

“Winning the league is a great feeling, I’m not going to lie. After a poor start with two rained off games and a loss to a poor side, I was sceptical.

“The comments section on the Echo articles has been dead quiet for a while, so we must be doing something right.”

The result saw Weymouth finish ten points above Corfe Mullen, who are also set to be promoted pending Dorset League approval.

Elsewhere, Weymouth Seconds ended their season with a four-wicket victory over Lytchett.

Ben Hunter claimed 3-18 as Lytchett were bowled out for 113, before Jack Taylor hit 34 in Weymouth’s chase.

Taylor now finishes as the top runscorer in the division with 519.