THREE wickets apiece for Simon Watkins and David Payne ensured Dorset dragged themselves back into contention against Shropshire on day two of their Minor Counties Championship Western Division clash at Dean Park.

Chasing a first innings score of 158, Dorset resumed play on 50-6 and in desperate need of some runs from their lower order.

Unfortunately they never arrived as Steve Taylor (4-31) and E Baylis (4-26) continued to turn the screw on the hosts, who were eventually skittled for just 71.

However, despite holding a lead of 87, Shropshire began their second innings tentatively as the home side’s bowling attack looked to make amends for their side’s woeful batting with Watkins (3-9) and Payne (3-29) leading the charge.

Atiq Chisti then put up some resistance in the middle order with a fine knock of 62 but Dorset continued to find breakthroughs to keep them in the hunt.

In the end Shropshire closed play on 143-8, giving them a lead of 230 going into the final day where Dorset will need to take early wickets and then find their form with the bat in-order to keep their title hopes alive.

DEAN PARK SCORECARD (At the close of play on day two

FIRST INNINGS

SHROPSHIRE

Foster c Williams b Metcalfe 22

Gray c Watkins b Metcalfe 8

Thomason c Ridley b Metcalfe 0

Oliver c Hicks b Denham 28

Chishti c Denham b Warren 0

Whitney c Ridley b Hicks 29

Ralph b Payne 11

Tilt c&b Metcalfe 20

Baylis c Ridley b Hicks 12

Taylor c Baker b Payne 19

Barnard not out 1

Extras (5lb 3w) 8

Total (all out, 66.2 overs) 158

FoW: 1-15, 2-19, 3-44, 4-53, 5-65, 6-86, 7-124, 8-126, 9-148

Bowling: Metcalfe 20-7-48-4, Payne 18.2-5-41-2, Warren 8-2-25-1, Denham 9-1-23-1, Hicks 11-6-16-2.

DORSET

Treagus lbw Taylor 12

Park c Foster b Bayliss 0

Williams lbw Bayliss 0

Baker c Ralph b A Gray 28

Watkins b Taylor 0

Hicks c Ralph b Bayliss 4

Metcalfe c Foster b Barnard 10

Ridley c Chishti b Taylor 7

Denham c Oliver b Taylor 2

Warren c Thomason b Baylis 2

Payne not out 0

Extras (2w, 1b 3nb) 6

Total (all out, 53 overs) 71

FoW: 1-1, 2-1, 3-17, 4-19, 5-24, 6-39, 7-59, 8-63, 9-71

Bowling: Taylor 20-9-31-4, Baylis 22-9-26-4, Barnard 6-2-12-1, Gray 5-4-1-1.

SECOND INNINGS

SHROPSHIRE

Foster b Payne 8

Gray b Metcalfe 25

Thomason lbw Payne 2

Oliver c Treagus b Watkins 17

Chisti c Baker b Payne 62

Whitney not out 16

Ralph c Hicks b Watkins 6

Tilt st Ridley b Hicks 5

Baylis c Ridley b Watkins 0

Taylor not out 0

Extras (1lb, 1w) 2

Total (for 8 wkts, 52 overs) 143

FoW: 1-13, 2-24, 3-36, 4-115, 5-121, 6-134, 7-139, 8-140

Bowling: Metcalfe 10-2-45-1, Payne 12-4-29-3, Warren 5-4-2-0, Denham 6-0-39-0, Hicks 8-3-18-1, Watkins 11-6-9-3.