SKIPPER Craig de Weymarn described Matt Metcalfe as a “captain’s dream” after the seamer had gone close to bowling Bournemouth to victory over local rivals Bashley.

But although Metcalfe claimed six for 51, Bournemouth were forced to settle for a winning draw after Bashley dug deep to deny them a second successive time pennant win.

A defiant eighth-wicket stand of 22 between linchpin Chris Jones and Ross Grierson saved the day for Bashley after Bournemouth had reduced them to 114 for eight in reply to their 181.

England under-19 star Jones kept his head as wickets continued to tumble around him, his undefeated 65 thwarting Bournemouth after Metcalfe had ripped out the Bashley middle order.

“Matt is a special player,” said de Weymarn. “He tries his heart out, he’s fit and he puts the ball in the right areas. He is always going to have batsmen in trouble. He does a job for us every week and is consistent.”

Bashley’s bowling honours went to Max Waller, the leg-spinner recording Southern League-best figures of six for 30 as Bournemouth lost their way following a promising start.

At one stage, Waller bowled seven successive maidens and conceded just three runs during a miserly 10-over spell. He was instrumental as Bournemouth mustered only 45 runs from 27.1 overs after lunch.

Earlier, Nick Park (52) and Simon Watkins (43) had shared a third-wicket stand of 69 to guide Bournemouth to 128 for two. But after Waller had accounted for both, caught at first slip by Andy Neal, Bournemouth fell away.

De Weymarn said: “Max is a good player which has been recognised by Somerset. He is a very difficult customer to face when you are a fresh batsman at the crease, particularly if he is in a rhythm.

“With that type of bowler, you’ve got to try to make sure he doesn’t get into a rhythm and try to nudge him around. We couldn’t do that and his figures speak for themselves.

“We spoke about how to play him because he is a big part of their team but he got on top of us.”

De Weymarn added: “We had a good start and were kicking ourselves for being all out for 181. The middle order has to take a little more responsibility and make 10s into 20s and 30s. We should have been looking at 250 really but didn’t press home our advantage after lunch.”

Bashley wisely gave up the chase after Metcalfe, together with Ed Denham (1-18) and Dave Kidner (1-35), had put them on the back foot with Neal (18) and Neil Thurgood (15) the only other batsmen to reach double figures.

“When a team decides to shut up shop, it’s always difficult to get the last few wickets,” said de Weymarn.

“The wicket at Chapel Gate doesn’t tend to do a huge amount for the bowlers and with a seam attack like ours, anything over 175 is defendable.”