JIGAR Naik helped wrestle Dorset back from a perilous position against Oxfordshire on the first day of their Minor Counties match at Chapel Gate.

 
Home captain Chris Park won the toss and elected to bat but the visitors soon tore through the Dorset top order. 


It took just 6.2 overs for Bradley Taylor (2-19) to dismiss both Dorset openers as Josh Digby (1) and Sam Collins (8) departed with the score on 10-2. 


Worse was to follow as Ed Ellis (4) and Michael Porter (5) were removed by Leo Bethell (1-23) and Joe Thomas (2-49), who then ousted Alex Eckland (0) to leave Dorset reeling on 23-5.

 
Joe Butcher (1-7) then picked up the wicket of captain Park (8) before Sam Thomson (4) became the first of two victims for Richard Kaufman (2-28) as Dorset crumbled to 41-7. 


But the hosts were saved by an invaluable stand of 87 from Naik (47) and Mark Wolstenholme (48) as they made 136 all out.

 
Former Leicestershire spinner Naik then took a sublime fifer after Oxfordshire openers Lloyd Sabin (66) and Oliver Clarke (21) had built a promising 73-run first-wicket partnership.

Naik also accounted for Harry Smith (7), skipper Jonathan Cater (0) and Kaufman (5) as Oxfordshire closed 16 runs behind on 120-5.