WALES MC 258-7 lost to DORSET 261-5 by five wickets

A SENSATIONAL sixth-wicket stand of 139 between wicketkeeper Chris Park and skipper Tom Hicks saw Dorset claim a fabulous win over Wales at Dean Park.

Chasing 258-7, the hosts looked in big trouble on 122-5 but when Chris Park and Hicks joined forces in the 27th over they produced a perfect one-day batting partnership by transferring all the pressure back on to the visiting bowlers with some lusty blows.

Chris Park scored 78 not out off 79 balls while Hicks chipped in with 66 not out off 72 balls, which included eight fours, as Wales faltered in the soaring heat.

Unfortunately for Dorset the five-wicket victory was not enough to see them progress to the MCCA Trophy quarter-finals due to an inferior run-rate compared to rivals Buckingham-shire.

But despite that disappointment the county outfit could not be happier with their form.

Chris Park said: “We might have missed out on a place in the quarter-finals on an inferior run-rate but we have won our last two games, which means we are in good nick ahead of our opening Championship match against Oxfordshire next weekend.

“If we can take that form and build on it then I think we can do very well in the three-day competition this year.

“We scored 236 to beat Cambridge-shire and 258 to beat Wales so we are playing well.

“Our game at Lincolnshire was washed out during the second over in between those two victories so it was only Mark Hardinges’ brilliant 114 against us, when we lost to Bucking-hamshire by five wickets in our first match, that has seen us bow out.

“We scored 278 in that match, so we have played three very good games, and I feel we are a bit unlucky to have missed out on a last-eight spot.”

Commenting on his unbeaten partnership with Hicks, Chris Park added: “Tom and I batted well together but it was a great all round team effort.

“Dave Kidner, Ed Denham and Simon Watkins all bowled fantastically well, just as good as Tom and I batted, and it was a good win against a very young Wales side.”

The visitors won the toss and decided to bat, and they got off to a steady start with Glamorgan’s Gareth Rees and Will Bragg scoring 63 off the first 12 overs.

Bragg (23) was then trapped leg before by Denham (1-23) before Mike O’Shea fell for a duck by finding the hands of Aaron Williams off the bowling of Kidner (1-23).

That brought together Rees and Thomas Merilaht and they got the principality’s innings back on track with a third-wicket stand of 93.

But just after Rees had reached his half-century, Merilaht holed out to Paul Warren off a delivery from Watkins (3-41) when well placed on 41.

Adam Harrison (21) then entered the action to help take the score towards the 200-mark but when his wicket was taken by Hicks (2-46) it was left to Rees to lead the attack as partners began to come and go at frequent intervals.

The left-hander rose to the challenge by eventually reaching 146 not out off 164 balls, which included 17 boundaries, as Wales ended their 50 overs on 258-7.

Dorset’s reply got off to a decent start with Nick Park and Glyn Treagus (23) reaching 39 before the latter edged through to Bragg in the ninth over.

That setback did not seem to affect Nick Park as he continued to bat with authority alongside Chris Jones (13).

However, O’Shea (3-42) then found his line and length and took a trio of wickets to reduce Dorset to 117-4. With Nick Park back in the pavilion just minutes after reaching his half-century it looked like Wales had now assumed full command.

But after Watkins (1) found the gloves of Bragg moments later, Chris Park and Hicks came together to turn the tables once again and lead Dorset to a glorious triumph.