Unbeaten Cheshire too strong for Dorset

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).