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.
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