CHESHIRE 187 & 30-0 (10pts) drew with DORSET 325-8 & 132-4d (14pts)

DOMINANT Dorset had to settle for a draw at Cheshire in their NCCA Championship Division One opener at Oxton.

The result yielded 14 points for Dorset, with Cheshire claiming 10, after all but 3.4 overs of play were lost on the second day due to rain.

On the final day’s play, a stirring spell of 7-14 in 11 overs from Bashley left-arm seamer Ben Fletcher (7-28) had Cheshire in complete disarray.

With the hosts resuming on 73-0, spinner Josh Digby (1-32) made the breakthrough as he trapped Timothy Hughes (33) lbw.

Fletcher’s introduction proved game-changing as he quickly swept up Charles Lowen (27), home skipper Robert Sehmi (2) and Will Evans (1).

Bournemouth’s left-arm spinner Rob Pack (2-46) then took the big wicket of Calum Rowe (74) to leave Cheshire on 149-5.

The carnage did not stop there as Fletcher castled three of his next four victims to rock the hosts at 161-9.

After lunch, David Wainwright (27) thumped two fours and a six in a stubborn last-wicket stand of 26 until he perished to Pack, Dorset earning a lead of 138.

Despite the loss of three quick wickets in their second innings, Dorset regrouped as Alex Eckland (47) and Greg Willows (52) built the visitors back up to 132-4 declared.

This set Cheshire an unlikely 271 to win and the hosts batted out play to 30-0 before both teams called a halt to proceedings.

Dorset are next in action against Wiltshire at Wimborne on Sunday, July 25 (11am) for their next three-day game.