CHRIS Park regained some bragging rights over brother Nick with a Minor Counties career-best 80 not out in Dorset's rain-affected championship draw against Here-fordshire yesterday.

The wicketkeeper starred with the bat on day three of the clash at Dean Park, after the first two days were washed out by the weather.

Park's innings comes just weeks after younger brother Nick plundered 122 on his Minor Counties debut in Dorset's win against Cornwall at Truro.

The elder Park said: "It's been the case that, for three or four years, I've batted down at six or seven, so I've never really had the chance to bat for any long periods.

"But today was great and I was really pleased with the way I batted.

"I'd like to think Nick can still watch me and learn off me! But seriously, he's a top player in his own right now and deserves his place in the side."

Chris Park was promoted up the order to number four, while Nick opened the innings with Tom Webley after star batsman Glyn Treagus was ruled out at the 11th hour with a hand injury.

Put in to bat by Herefordshire, Dorset made 200-7 dec from 52 overs, with Webley top-scoring behind Park with 39.

With Dorset completing 20 overs in Herefordshire's reply for both sides to share eight points, the western side managed 62-2 at the close.

Park added: "It was worthwhile to play the one day as it's always good to get together and play.

It was nice to get a run-out. It will also be a useful exercise as we have to play Cheshire in a couple of weeks' time and it will be good match-practice.

"We beat Cheshire at their place last year in a three-day game so we've got nothing to fear meeting them again. We don't play Devon this year and the way the fixtures are, we have a real chance of taking the championship."

DEAN PARK SCOREBOARD

Dorset v Herefordshire (Day Three)

Match drawn

DORSET FIRST INNINGS

T Webley b Boroughs 39

N Park C Nahorniak b Glover 7

B Lawes c Stevenson B Boroughs 21

C Park not out 80

D Cowley c Exall b Boroughs 16

G Hicks c Price b Tingle 3

T Hicks c Exall b Glover 0

P Lewis c Stevenson b Glover 1

M Metcalfe not out 19

Extras (b10, lb1, wd1, nb2) 14

Total (7wkts dec, 52overs) 200

FoW: 1-10, 2-64, 3-81, 4-123, 5-136, 6-153, 7-177.

Bowling: T Glover 13-3-34-3, J Tingle 15-1-78-1, C Boroughs 13-2-48-3, O Price 11-3-29-0.

HEREFORDSHIRE FIRST INNINGS

R Hall c G Hicks b Metcalfe 24

A Nahorniak not out 19

H Langford c Lawes b Linge 4

D Exall not out 11

Extras (lb2, wd2) 4

Total (2wkts, 20overs) 62

FoW: 1-36, 2-50.

Bowling: M Ford 5-1-19-0, M Metcalfe 7-1-20-1, T Hicks 4-0-9-0, Linge 2-2-0-1, T Webley 1-0-2-0, D Cowley 1-0-10-0.

Points: Dorset 8 Herefordshire 8