DORSET 401-4 & 322 (23pts) beat SHROPSHIRE 330-7 & 270 (5pts) by 123 runs

COACH Alan Willows hailed as “an amazing feat” Chris Jones’ record-breaking batting exploits during Dorset’s Minor Counties Championship win at Dean Park.

Jones penned no fewer than three new chapters in the Minor Counties history books and one in the Dorset archives during their Western Division match with Shropshire.

The Broadstone-raised 21-year-old hit 175 and 188 to register a total of 363 runs in his two innings – the highest individual aggregate score in Minor Counties cricket.

Jones, who played club cricket for Corfe Mullen, Poole and Bashley, also recorded the two biggest centuries and became the first batsman to score more than 150 in both innings.

The former Poole Grammar School pupil also shared a third-wicket stand of 240 with Aaron Williams in the first innings – a new Dorset record.

Jones, who represented England at under-17 level, came through the ranks at Dorset and is currently on the books of Somerset.

Willows said: “It is an amazing feat from an incredibly talented player.

“To get 175 in the first innings was a truly brilliant knock. But to follow up with another hundred in the second innings was an incredible effort.

“He showed superb powers of concentration to bat that length of time and should be given a great deal of credit.

“Chris came into the game with not a great deal of form behind him. He hadn’t scored many runs this season, even though he did get a hundred at Lord’s for Durham University a week ago.

“He tried to work at a couple of things with his technique and it worked wonders. The pitch was pretty flat, although it did a bit in the first innings. They bowled a little short to him and that got him off to a good start.”

Dorset completed a stunning 123-run victory after bowling Shropshire out for 270 during the final day’s play.

Having won the toss on day one, Dorset elected to bat and got off to a great start as Nick Park (37) and Chris Jones (175) put on 80 for the first wicket – the best opening partnership of the season.

With the second wicket falling at 98, Jones was joined by Aaron Williams (124 not out) and that pair broke a record that had stood since 1929 by racking up 240 runs for the third wicket.

Once Jones had departed and Darren Cowley was out for a duck, skipper Tom Hicks (18 not out) eventually declared on 401-4 after 89 overs.

At the close of play, Shropshire were sitting comfortably on 49-0 from 19 overs but by the time the same number of overs had been bowled the following morning, they had been reduced to 93-4 by the twin spin attack of Hicks (3-99) and Jack Leach (4-106), including the valuable wicket of Ed Foster for 54.

Excellent batting from Rob Foster (59), Jono Whitney (110) and Anthony Parker (46) ensured that the visitors completed their innings on a very respectable 330-7.

Dorset’s second innings was all about that man Jones again.

By the time he had amassed 130 he had broken the Minor Counties Championship record for the highest aggregate score by any batsman, the previous being 304 set by EW Whitfield for Surrey in 1938.

At 150 he was the first Minor Counties batsman to score two 150s in one match and, when he was dismissed for 188, he had beaten the existing Minor Counties aggregate score – 341 by Ernest Garnett for Berkshire in 1908 – with a total of 368 runs.

Chris Park (39) and Ed Denham (46) helped Dorset reach a total of 322 and most notable of the Shropshire bowlers was debutant Elliot Green who, despite only bowling a few overs, returned figures of 3-11.

Shropshire, set a target of 394 from a minimum 74 overs, must have been panicking when the first two wickets fell for just 25 runs. However, splendid partnerships of 119 between James Ralph (86) and Stephen Leach (38), and then 97 between Whitney (43) and Rob Foster (55) moved them on to 241-5 in the 61st over.

Unfortunately there was very little wag left in the Shropshire tail and they were eventually dismissed for 270 after 78.5 overs, leaving Dorset the winners by 123 runs.

Jack Leach (4-50) was, again, the main workhorse of the home attack.

Dorset now join Wiltshire in second place, behind Cornwall, in the Western Division table.