DORSET 179-9 beat CHESHIRE 102 by 77 runs

DARREN Cowley led the way for Dorset as they booked their place in the last four of the Minor Counties Knockout Trophy at Toft Cricket Club.

The powerful middle-order batsman produced a well-crafted half-century to lead his side to a first innings tally of 179-9 before some tight bowling knocked over hosts Cheshire for just 102.

Dorset will now entertain Cumber-land in the semi-finals at Dean Park on July 1 with Staffordshire hosting Wiltshire in the other fixture.

Reflecting on the 77-run victory, Dorset coach Alan Willows said: “When we arrived the ground was particularly wet but from our point of view the last thing we wanted was the game to be decided by a bowl-off or the toss of a coin, so we were willing to hang around a bit.

“We did a lot of bowl-off practice in the morning just in case but in the end the two captains got together and we managed to get out there.

“Unfortunately, we lost the toss but when a wicket is damp like that, it is not always easy to decide whether to bat or bowl first because sometimes indentations can be left for the team bowling second, who can then pitch into them and get the ball moving laterally.

“Cheshire chose to put us in and at one stage we were 49-4 but Darren then played beautifully to reach a half-century and get us going a bit.

“We needed someone to construct an innings and he was the one that stepped up to the mark.

“His shot selection was outstanding and after he went Tom Hicks and Chris Park came together and ran them ragged by continuing to rotate the strike in a seventh-wicket partnership of 56 that got us right in the game.

“Before we went out there we saw 180 as a par score so we were more than happy with 179 and the intensity we showed in the field after that was just magnificent.

“To win in those conditions against a Cheshire side with a couple of professionals in it was a fantastic effort but it is important now we do not get carried away.

“Cumberland also have a strong side and there is still a lot to work on before we face them at the start of next month.”

A damp pitch led to a late start at Toft, which resulted in the match being reduced to 35 overs per side.

Cheshire won the toss and elected to field and soon had Dorset struggling on 83-5 thanks mainly to Adam Syddall (4-30) and Danny Woods (3-24) With the likes of Aaron Williams (1), Nick Park (7), Chris Jones (12) and Masoor Khan (9) all back in the pavilion, the visitors appeared in desperate trouble but up stepped Cowley to inspire a remarkable fight-back.

He went on the offensive and scored a fine 50 before Tom Hicks (28) and wicketkeeper Chris Park (30) came together and put on a crucial stand to transfer all the pressure on to Cheshire at the tea break.

The moist conditions continued to make life at the crease extremely difficult and after 10 overs the hosts found themselves on just 25-2.

Khalid Sawas (24) and Scott Kirwin (21) put up some resistance in the middle order but Dorset refused to loosen their grip on the game, conceding just four extras in the entire innings, compared to Cheshire’s 27 in the first.

In the end, the hosts were bowled out midway through the 31st over with Rupes Kitzinger (2-21), Scott Barlow (2-21), Ed Denham (2-20), Hicks (2-20) and Cowley (1-17) all having taken wickets.

Another man that deserved a special mention was Michael Porter. Willows added: “Michael captained the academy side the previous day and he and his dad drove up to Cheshire at 8pm that night after Mark Wolstenholme went down injured.

“To do that shows real commitment to Dorset cricket and on behalf of everyone I would like to thank both of them for their tremendous efforts.”