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.

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