Southern Tour - Dorset continued

Posted by Tony Hutton

Sunday 23rd May

Another Minor Counties knock out day with Dorset entertaining Oxfordshire at the Redlands ground in Weymouth. Through very busy traffic as the hot weather was drawing everyone to the coast this morning, but a haven of tranquility at the Redlands sports complex, where there are three cricket grounds. Last time I was here Yorkshire under 15s were on tour and Dr Knowles and Harold Galley were very surprised to see me so far from our normal meeting place of New Rover in Leeds.

Unfortunately today the cricket did not match the weather as Oxfordshire were bowled out in very quick time on a bowler friendly wicket for only 118. Opening bowler Banham with 5-19 and left arm spinner Morgan, with 3-29 doing the damage. It was only on my return home that I discovered the two Brians had seen over 650 runs on the same day in their Minor Counties game at Netherfield.

So Dorset started their innings before the scheduled lunch interval and were well on their way to a six wicket victory when we finished our picnic lunch and moved on towards Portland. We drove past the hordes on the sands and the vast number of boats in Weymouth Marina, round Portland bay where the yachting events will take place in the 2012 Olympics and passed Chesil Beach onto Portland Bill. Here on top of the hill is a cricket ground, the Reforme cricket ground which is the home of Portland Red Triangle cricket club.

Red Triangle 2nd XI at home to Sturminster & Hinton in the Dorset Sunday league. The main attraction, for me at any rate, was the backdrop of a huge church, in the style of St Pauls Cathedral, apparently built by a local architect in that style because of the close links Sir Christopher Wren had with the district, where he got all his stone from. Very educating this cricket watching!

Took a risk on this very busy Sunday by taking the scenic way back to our next overnight stop in Christchurch via the Studland peninsula and the Sandbanks ferry.
It was very busy but we didn't have to wait too long in the queue for the ferry, but missed the chance of seeing the picturesque Studland cricket ground on the edge of the sea as they have withdrawn from the Sunday league. Will have to go back some time on a Saturday - hopefully when it's not so busy.