DORSET must rely on other results to reach NCCA T20 Finals Day after two losses in four matches on a busy weekend of Bank Holiday action.
Coming into double-headers against Cornwall and Wiltshire, Luke Webb’s men were unbeaten in four matches, including one game lost to the weather.
And the early signs were good against fellow unbeaten side Cornwall as they took victory in the opening rubber.
However, Cornwall edged the second clash at Milton Abbey to give Dorset work to do at Warminster.
They initially responded in stunning fashion, Sam Young cracking a superlative century as Dorset coasted to victory in match one.
READ MORE: Dorset beat Devon before rain halts play
Wiltshire, who had not won a match in the competition previously, then upset the odds in the second contest to leave Dorset’s fate out of their hands in Group Two.
Only the winners in each of the four divisions will make it through to Finals Day.
After rain put back the schedule at Milton Abbey School on Sunday, Dorset made 127-6 after being invited to bat first.
In-form duo Sam Young (43) and Joe Eckland (22) continued their runscoring exploits but star batters Tom Prest (1) and Ross Whiteley (9) were less successful.
Useful late runs from David Scott (15), Webb (12) and Alex Eckland (11no) propelled Dorset over the run-a-ball mark.
Cornwall negated the early loss of Christian Purchase (0) as current Worcestershire opener Jake Libby (17) and Paul Smith (35) rebuilt.
David Scott (2-12) crucially removed both men but thereafter it was the Prest show as the Hampshire talent snared 5-15 from just three overs to bowl the Cornish out for 86.
Dorset this time fielded after winning the toss but were ambushed by Libby’s classy 77 from 54 balls, with four sixes and boundaries apiece.
Cornwall posted 132-4 from 20 overs and took wickets regularly in Dorset’s chase, Whiteley (41) finally finding form with the bat off 29 balls.
Dorset’s innings boiled down to requiring 11 from the final over but Will MacVicar (5-19) claimed the second fifer of the day to inflict a nine-run loss.
Heading to Warminster yesterday, Dorset found their path to victory far easier in the first match against Wiltshire.
Young’s brutal 104 from 56 balls, including eight sixes and six boundaries, helped post 210-3 along with Scott’s 50 from 38 balls.
Wiltshire had no answer, despite eight maximums from Ed Young (68) as they fell 24 runs short.
Wounded by the loss, Wiltshire turned around their fortunes in dramatic fashion as they skittled Dorset for 84 in match two.
Young (22), Whiteley (12) and Lucas del Bianco (11) were the only batters to breach double figures as Warwickshire spinner Jake Lintott (4-11) wreaked havoc.
Dorset did claim five wickets to hinder the Wiltshire chase but they did not have enough runs to play with as Ben Draper (31no) smashed four sixes to get Wiltshire to the winning line at 85-5.
It leaves Dorset top, but only three points clear in the table, meaning they must call on Devon to do them a favour against Cornwall on Sunday (11am).
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