COACH Alan Willows has heaped praise on his young Dorset performers and is hoping they can end their season on a high against Cornwall at Dean Park tomorrow (11am).

Going into the three-day clash, the county have turned their Unicorns Counties Championship campaign around in recent weeks from their heavy opening two defeats, and are unbeaten in their last three outings.

“We have come a long way in the last three or four games,” Willows told Echosport.

“The younger players have picked up a lot of experience and I think as long as they are still learning that’s a good thing. If we win this last game against Cornwall then we could finish as high as third.

“You always go out to try and win it but, from where we were after the first two games, to maybe finish there is a great credit to the players because they have put in a lot of effort over the last few weeks.

“You could say some of the young players have stood up and won some of the later games and that could be down to continuity, in that they have settled in the side.”

Mike Kitson will be unavailable for the clash due to a side strain, but former captain Tom Hicks returns to the fold for the season closer.

Willows added: “Cornwall are not coming here just to lie down and, from our point of view, both sides are going to try and win it, it won’t be a negative game of cricket so a lot spectators should see a good game.“

Dorset (from): Khan, Porter, Scott, Webb, Lintott, Park, Hicks, Wolstenholme, Thomson, Hayman, Carpenter