DORSET captain Stuart Rintoul has blamed poor batting for their disappointing eight-wicket defeat against Cornwall at Dean Park.

The 2000 Minor Coun-ties champions had looked as though they would mount a final day surge for victory after leading by 39 runs at the end of the first innings.

But Dorset, who slipp-ed to the bottom of the Western Division last year, were bundled out for 101 in 112 minutes in their second innings on Monday afternoon to hand Cornwall the initiative.

And the Duchy side didn't need asking twice to complete what turned out to be a comfortable win.

They lost two early wic-kets yesterday when medium pace bowler Matthew Mixer trapped Martin Pearce and James Hands leg before as Cornwall slumped to 31 for two.

However, Ben Price - who had cracked 65 in their first innings - blasted 12 fours on his way to 74 not out to navigate the Duchy outfit home without the loss of any more wickets.

Neil Stoddard also batted patiently to finish on an unbeaten 39 as Corn-wall took their time before lunch to make sure they did not slip up like Dorset in their second innings.

Indeed, Cornwall notched up their opening 50 at just over two runs per over before Price launched his late onslaught and victory was confirmed 16 minutes after lunch.

Price cracked the winning boundary off Rintoul, the last of his five successive scoring strokes that all ended up as fours.

Rintoul, with 57, had been the only Dorset batsman to reach double figures on Monday.

And Price and Stoddard's unbeaten 111-run partnership put the home side's second innings batting collapse into its full perspective.

Rintoul said: "It was very disappointing to lose after we got a reasonable first innings score.

"Cornwall probably got 30 runs more than I had hoped in their first innings. Having said that, the way we batted in the second innings, we would have lost anyway.

"Charlie Schrek bowled well delivering one or two really good balls. That - mixed in with two or three poor choices of shots - did for us.

"As well as Cornwall bowled, we were dismissed in 112 minutes, which in three-day cricket is unacceptable, particularly as we have players who have shown what they can do.

"It is imperative. You only get one chance. You have to be patient and occupy the crease.

"We were also a few bowlers short and that made a difference.

"Matthew Mixer and Joe Wilson bowled excellently and we stuck to our guns in the field. But if you are bowled out for 101 in a three-day match, you are going to lose.

"That is the main reason we have lost this game."

Defeat leaves Dorset with 16 points from their opening two championship games this season and stretched their winless Western Divi-sion run to eight matches.

They will be looking for an improvement before their next three-day clash against Ox-fordshire at Dean Park on July 14, 15 and 16.

Before then, Dorset host Cornwall in their final ECB 38-County Competition group match at Chapel Gate on Sunday.

Matt Swarbrick (back) and Darren Cowley (foot) are injury doubts for the match in four day's time at the Bournemouth ground.