DORSET will begin day two of their clash against Herefordshire with plenty of work to do – despite a fine all-round effort from Darren Cowley.

The Lymington star hit 62 from 79 deliveries and then bagged two wickets when Dorset’s three-day Minor Counties Championship match got under way at Brockhampton yesterday.

But reigning county kings Dorset, third in the Western Division after two matches, ended the day just 42 runs ahead after being dismissed for 213 and seeing the hosts reach 171-4 in reply.

Dorset endured a nightmare start when they were reduced to 10-3 batting first.

Cowley and Chris Park (35 not out) steadied the ship before Ed Denham smashed 29.

Herefordshire’s opening batsmen shared a stand of 88 (Dave Exall 49 and Ben Stebbings 41) before in-form Cowley, who had bowled a marathon 24-over stint for Lymington and scored 49 on Saturday, claimed two wickets to raise spirits.

Mark Wolstenholme did the same as Dorset finished in more positive fashion but Herefordshire, for whom bowler Callum Stewart (6-56) starred, hold the upper hand.