Unbeaten Cheshire too strong for Dorset - Day 3 Report

By Neil Goulding (Cheshire CCC press officer 07813 859986)

CHESHIRE cruised to an impressive victory over Dorset yesterday (Tuesday) to maintain their unbeaten start to the Minor Counties Championship season.

Resuming on 182-8 overnight, Cheshire added 22 second innings runs on the final morning of the three-day clash at Dean Park in Bournemouth, leaving Dorset with a target of 292 for victory.

But that target was reduced to 283 after two of Cheshire's bowlers were penalised for running on the pitch, the visitors hit with a nine-run penalty.

However, despite that minor setback, some excellent bowling from left-arm spinner Danny Woods (4-78) and seamer Adam Syddall (3-30) saw the hosts dismissed for 236.

Former Derbyshire all-rounder Nathan Dumelow (2-102) was also in the wickets, but a magnificent catch at extra cover by James Duffy, to break a stubborn ninth-wicket stand, proved pivotal with Dorset needing 50 for victory.

"That's a great win for us," praised Cheshire skipper Andy Hal, who scored 137 runs in the match. "It was nip-and-tuck all the way, but we never let them get away from us and stuck at our task.

"We knew we had to be patient because they would be stubborn, but I thought our bowlers were excellent. It was a really superb team effort - and another great win for us."

Cheshire have now won all three of their three-day Championship matches this season, with impressive victories over 2006 Minor Counties champions Devon and former MCCA Knockout Trophy winners Berkshire in their previous contests.

And having also reached the semi-finals of this year's Knockout Trophy - against Devon at Chester Boughton Hall on Sunday 29th July - no wonder Hall is delighted with the way his ambitious team, Minor Counties champions themselves in 2005, have started the season.

"I couldn't have asked for a better start to the season, we've played some great cricket," added Hall.

"We've got three more Championship games left, so there's still a lot of work left to do, but we're in a very strong position at the top of the table."

Scorecard:
Cheshire 1st innings: 291-9 (A Hall 82, B Spendlove 55, M Dawson 36, T Hicks 6-84)
Dorset 1st innings: 213 all out (N Dumelow 4-71, D Woods 3-49, A Syddall 2-56, C Finegan 1-23).
Cheshire 2nd innings: 204 all out (A Hall 55, J Duffy 53)
Dorset 2nd innings: 236 all out (D Woods 4-78, A Syddall 3-30, Dumelow 2-102)

Result: Cheshire (23 pts) beat Dorset (5 pts) won by 46 runs.

Cheshire team: Andy Hall, Matthew Dawson (Bramhall); Danny Leech, Ben Spendlove, Nathan Dumelow (Oulton Park); Ismail Dawood (Urmston); James Duffy, Danny Woods (Hyde); Warren Goodwin (Chester Boughton Hall); Adam Syddall (Bowdon); Chris Finegan (Neston). 12th man: Chris Davies (Oxton).

Dumelow and Woods spin Cheshire closer to victory - Day 2 report

By Neil Goulding (Cheshire CCC press officer 07813 859986)

SPIN kings Nathan Dumelow and Danny Woods starred for Cheshire as they gave themselves an excellent chance of victory with one day remaining of their three-day Minor Counties Championship Western Division clash with Dorset in Bournemouth.

Former Derbyshire all-rounder Dumelow (4-71) and promising youngster Woods (3-49) sparkled with the ball as Dorset crumbled from 109-2 overnight to 213 all out at Dean Park, the hosts losing their last eight wickets for just 104 runs.

And with Cheshire having posted a respectable 291-9 in their first innings, that gave the 2005 Minor Counties champions a welcome 78 runs lead.

Skipper Andy Hall then made a patient 55 - adding to his 82 from the first innings - and James Duffy weighed in with an important 53 as Cheshire finished the second day on 182-8 having at one stage been 23-3 and 66-4.

It was Hall and Duffy's important fifth-wicket stand worth 72 in one hour and 20 minutes which helped Cheshire recover from 66-4 to 138-5, with the captain hitting four fours in a 157-ball innings and Duffy crashed six fours and one six in his 87-ball knock.

Debutant Warren Goodwin (23) and Dumelow (21) also chipped in with useful runs as Cheshire ended the second day with a lead of exactly 260.

And with two wickets left, Hall is hoping his side can score some quick runs in the morning to set a target of 300 on the final's day play.

"I'd be really happy with 300, but even if we didn't get that we fancy our chances of bowling Dorset out," said Hall.

"They're a good side and have some very good players, but we bowled them out for 213 in their first innings - and I'm sure our spinners will play a big part on the final day.

"It's been a really good match so far. We've had to get ourselves out of difficult situations - and so have Dorset.

"But if we can score some quick runs on the final day and then take a couple of early wickets, I think we'll be in the driving seat to win the match."

Scorecard:
Cheshire 1st innings: 291-9, 90 overs (A Hall 82, B Spendlove 55, M Dawson 36, W Goodwin 26, N Dumelow 22, T Hicks 6-84)
FOW: 25, 104, 148, 193, 210, 212, 262, 274, 286.

Dorset 1st innings: 213 all out, 74.3 overs (109-2 overnight, 39 overs) - (N Dumelow 4-71, D Woods 3-49, A Syddall 2-56, C Finegan 1-23).
FOW: 14, 18, 110, 139, 175, 175, 176, 204, 204, 213.

Cheshire 2nd innings: 182-8, 77 overs (A Hall 55, J Duffy 53, W Goodwin 23, N Dumelow 21)
FOW: 0, 13, 23, 66, 138, 158, 159, 182.

Points so far (after two days): Cheshire 7pts, Dorset 5pts.

Cheshire team: Andy Hall, Matthew Dawson (Bramhall); Danny Leech, Ben Spendlove, Nathan Dumelow (Oulton Park); Ismail Dawood (Urmston); James Duffy, Danny Woods (Hyde); Warren Goodwin (Chester Boughton Hall); Adam Syddall (Bowdon); Chris Finegan (Neston). 12th man: Chris Davies (Oxton).

Hall and Spendlove shine for Cheshire

By Neil Goulding (Cheshire CCC press officer 07813 859986)

ANDY Hall and Ben Spendlove both hit half-centuries as Cheshire made a bright start to their three-day Minor Counties Championship Western Division clash with Dorset in Bournemouth yesterday.

Captain Hall led the way with an impressive 82 at Dean Park, while former Derbyshire all-rounder Spendlove made 55 as the 2005 Minor Counties champions posted a commanding 291-9 from their allotted 90 first innings overs.

Hall's innings came from 127 balls and included seven fours and one six, while Spendlove hit seven fours in his 133-ball knock.

Wicketkeeper Matt Dawson (36), former Yorkshire player Ismail Dawood (30), Chester Boughton Hall debutant Warren Goodwin (26) and all-rounder Nathan Dumelow (22) also contributed important runs as Cheshire recovered from 212-6 to add 79 to their total. Spinner Tom Hicks (6-84) was the pick of Dorset's bowlers.

In reply Dorset slipped to 18-2, losing two wickets for just five runs, but an unbeaten third-wicket partnership of 91 between Nick Park (45) and Ben Laws (46) saw the home county close on 109-2 from 39 overs.

Dorset have a further 51 overs to bat in their first innings today, with Cheshire looking to bowl their opponents out as quickly as possible and grab an early stranglehold on the game.

Neston's Chris Finnegan (1-14 from 10 overs) and Bowdon seamer Adam Syddall (1-28 from 13 overs) were Cheshire's wicket-takers as Hall's men look to extend their impressive unbeaten start to the season, which has thus far yielded excellent wins against Devon and Berkshire.

Dumelow (0-29 from 10 overs), fellow spinner Danny Woods (0-25 from 4 overs) and Spendlove (0-12 from 2 overs) also featured, but will look to take important wickets on the second day's play.

"It was nice to score some runs, but for me it was more pleasing to see us fight back when we were in a little bit of trouble at 212-6," said Hall, whose side are also through to the semi-finals of the Knockout Trophy.

"Ben (Spendlove) batted well and then we had them in a bit of trouble, but they batted well and it's quite well-balanced at the moment.

"It will be important for us to get some quick wickets and then hopefully get some sort of first innings lead."

Scorecard:
Cheshire 1st innings: 291-9, 90 overs (A Hall 82, B Spendlove 55, M Dawson 36, I.Dawood 30, W Goodwin 26, N Dumelow 22, T Hicks 6-84)
FOW: 25, 104, 148, 193, 210, 212, 262, 274, 286.

Dorset 1st innings: 109-2, 39 overs (N Park 45 not out, B Laws 46 not out, C Finegan 1-14, A Syddall 1-28)
FOW: 14, 18.