UNLIKELY hero Masoor Khan admitted keeping a cool head paid dividends when bowling the crucial final over in Dorset’s MCCA Knockout Trophy victory against Wiltshire.

The opening batsman and part-time bowler was called on to deliver two overs at the death by skipper Chris Park during his side’s nail-biting four-run victory at North Perrott, which earned the former Dean Park outfit a place in the last four of the competition.

Describing those dramatic events after Dorset booked their semi-final spot against Staffordshire on July 10, Khan, who finished with figures of 2-16, told Echosport: “The skip chucked me the ball and I had to do what I had to do. It went pretty well and you have to back your skills.

“I think we were probably a seamer light with regards to the wicket and, looking at the bowlers, almost everyone was going to be needed to bowl and we would need a couple of overs from someone.

“It was out of a couple of us and I sort of said to the skip to back me a little bit and we went from there.”

Having been smashed back over his head for six with the penultimate ball of the game, Khan knew a repeat of that outcome would have lost his side the contest, but he was keen to stay positive throughout the final over.

“All I said to myself was that I needed two or three good balls that don’t go for a boundary and that would put all the pressure on them,” he said.

“Luckily it happened in the first couple of balls when they tried to swipe and missed it.

“I tried to stay as cool as I could. Even after that six, I was joking around and stuff because it is tough for a batter who is probably not a top order batter to hit two sixes on the bounce. It was just a case of staying cool.”

He added: “I am just really happy for the lads. We have worked so hard over the winter and it has come together, it’s really good to see.

“I think we stuck at it together and it shows how far we have come.

“There is a calmer mind set in the changing room now and young lads have learnt a lot over the last couple of seasons.

“We enjoy each other’s company and because we have been through such rough times together, when we win we enjoy it a little bit more.”