DORSET captain Chris Park was filled with pride for his side after they secured back-to-back victories in the MCCA Championship with a seven-wicket win over Herefordshire at North Perrott.

Four of the hosts’ batsmen hit half-centuries across the two innings, whilE every frontline bowler made an impact with the ball. Sam Thomson was the pick of the bunch, scoring 63 in the first innings and taking seven wickets in the match.

Park, who hit a half-century himself as well as taking four catches, felt his whole side were on the top of their game throughout the three days.

He told Echosport: “It was an incredible team performance. At times we were on the back foot but the side showed great fighting spirit. The second session on the first day was really important and every bowler performed extremely well.

“They were 178-1 and we managed to bowl them out for 259 on the first day was really pleasing.

“Then to back that up with the batting, Tom Arnold and Mas (Masoor Khan) set up a great platform.

“We had a bit of a wobble but we fought back well.”

It was Thomson and Park who provided that fightback and the skipper feels his all-rounder is playing some Of his best cricket in a Dorset shirt.

He added: “He has taken over the mantle as the number one spinner in the side and he has that responsibility.

“He’s stepped up and he’s bowling well. Maybe that is affecting his batting and we managed to get a 50-run lead, which was crucial.”

Park has struggled with the bat this season, and his half-century against Herefordshire was his first in all formats this year.

Speaking about this, he said: “It was nice to contribute in the middle order.

“It was great to help us through that wobble.”

His bowlers were just as important to the victory and the skipper felt the last hour before the close of play on day two.

He explained: “The game was meandering and those late wickets showed that the boys had that level of concentration.

“The application and intensity was still there at 7pm. It was brilliant.

“And to finish the game off early on day three put the icing on the cake.”

It was lucky that they had, as it allowed 16-year-old debutant Max Trueman, who saw the side home, the time to get back for his school prom at 6pm.