DORSET gained the upper hand on Herefordshire on Day One of their MCCA Championship game at North Perrot thanks in part to Sam Thomson.

The spinner took 11 wickets in the hosts’ last three-day game and he bowled well again, taking 4-66 from 22 overs as the visitors were dismissed for 259.

Dorset then batted with a security that they have not shown in the longer format this season, reaching 133-1 at stumps.

Opener Tom Arnold once again impressed with a fluent 74.

Batting first, Herefordshire, who are yet to a win in the championship this season, started confidently as their opening pair Matt Pardoe (64) and Liam Gwynne (47) put on 97 for the first wicket before Thomson trapped the latter in front.

Ed Pollock (64), in at three, continued to build on the foundations as the visitors looked set for a big total.

After the away side reached 202-3, Dorset hit back as Thomson along with Max Wolstenholme (3-50), Tom Barber (2-66) and Brad Currie (1-39) bowled well as a unit to take the final seven wickets for just 57 runs.

In reply, Arnold attacked from the outset as Masoor Khan (42no) played the supporting role and the pair put 128 in a solid opening stand.

Despite the late demise of Arnold, it was Dorset’s day as Khan and Currie saw the rest of the day out without alarm to trail by 126 runs.