DORSET 132 all out lost to BUCKINGHAMSHIRE 48-2 on superior run rate in rain-affected game

TOUGH talking Dorset manager Sean Walbridge is demanding more from his players after they slumped to a humiliating defeat against Buckinghamshire yesterday.

Dorset, who had given youngsters Charlie Esson, Guy Hicks and Ziggy Arshad the opportunity of batting further up the order, were dismissed for 132 at Sherborne School.

That was after Bucks seamers Mark Wright, who claimed 5-19, and Simon Stanway, who sent down eight maidens in ten overs, had wrecked havoc by sending Dorset spiralling to 37-7.

Bucks, with all-rounder Wright opening their batting, sauntered to victory, making sure they remained ahead of the required run-rate before the rain came.

When it fell at about 4.30pm to saturate the pitch and abruptly halt proceedings, Bucks were on 48-2 after 15 overs and triumphed on a superior run-rate.

Walbridge, clearly still reeling after his side's third successive MCCA Trophy group four defeat, said: "We batted appallingly at the top of the order apart from Nick Park, who did really well.

"It wasn't until Tom Hicks and Chris Park were together that we put any sort of partnership together.

"They put on 37 for the eighth wicket, then Martin Ford gave Chris some great support as well to get us up to 132.

"To be 37-7 is not great. Some of the guys didn't grasp their opportunity at the top of the order, unfortunately."

Walbridge, who saw Dorset lose three wickets on 34 and three on 37 as they collapsed dramatically on a damp square, added: "Bucks bowled okay, but our batsmen weren't got at'.

"They were probably pretty soft dismissals to be fair. The boys will be disappointed with their dismissals.

"Wright and Stanway bowled very well, putting us under pressure and, sadly, we didn't respond to it."

Dorset, Lord's finalists only two years ago, bowed out of one-day competition with three defeats and one no-result to finish bottom of group four.

Walbridge said: "We just have to pick ourselves up and concentrate on the three-day stuff.

"Go away and work hard in preparation for Herefordshire in the championship in three weeks' time.

"We will be a bit stronger with Steve Selwood, Darren Cowley and Glyn Treagus who were missing yesterday, especially at the top of the order.

"But we just have to put the hard work and preparation in if we are to win that game. It's now down to the boys to go and prove they can play better than this."

sherborne school scoreboard

DORSET

N Park lbw Wright 23

Esson C Sher b Stanway 2

Lawes b Wright 4

Hicks b Wright 0

Arshad b Wright 0

Waller c&b Arif 3

C Park b Sher 37

Metcalfe lbw Wright 0

Hicks b Sher 17

Ford c Wright b Cherry 24

Denham not out 2

Extras (2nb 13w 5lb) 20

Total: (all out, 49.4 overs) 132

FoW: 1-19, 2-34, 3-34, 4-34, 5-37, 6-37, 7-37, 8-74, 9-119.

Bowling: Stanway 10-8-5-1, Arif 10-3-28-1, Wright 10-4-19-5, Brooks 6-1-22-0, Sher 10-0-30-2, Cherry 3.4-0-23-1.

BUCKINGHAMSHIRE

Wright c Esson b Metcalfe 6

Perkins not out 25

Watson b Ford 12

Cherry not out 0

Extras (5w) 5

Total: (2 wkts, 15 overs) 48

FoW: 1-14, 2-33.

Bowling: Metcalfe 8-2-27-1, Ford 7-1-21-1.