Dorset beat Wiltshire by six wickets at Dorchester Rec

DORSET sent out a big statement with a comfortable six-wicket win over Wiltshire at Dorchester Rec to top NCCA Trophy Group Four.

In blazing sunshine and watched by a large crowd at the Rec, Dorset exhibited the kind of entertaining cricket they have become renowned for in recent seasons.

Dorset were able to call on the talent of Brad Currie, on Sussex’s books, to open the bowling after Wiltshire won the toss and elected to bat first.

Their tactic to see off Currie worked initially as the left-arm seamer returned miserly figures of 0-2 from six overs, including five maidens.

READ MORE: Dorset beat Wales to reach NCCA Trophy quarter-finals

However, in doing so, Wiltshire piled pressure on themselves on what was a good batting surface.

After Currie’s fellow left-arm seamer Simon Woodruff (1-38) struck to remove Jake Goodwin (9), Wiltshire unleashed the shackles as Jack Mynott (24) and Tom Cullen (35) rebuilt.

Mynott nudged and nurdled his way to 24, scoring only one boundary, but Cullen was more aggressive in hitting three fours and a six.

Dorset responded by picking up both wickets in three balls, Hampshire star Ross Whiteley (3-17) striking to remove Mynott before Connor Smith (1-30) pinned Cullen lbw.

Whiteley, himself bowling left-arm seam, then took the big wicket of Wiltshire captain Ed Young (1) and followed up by removing Josh Kelly (12) as Wiltshire were reduced to 98-5.

Currie (1-26) returned to the attack to dismiss Ben Draper (18) and with it Wiltshire’s hopes of surpassing 200 despite the best efforts of Archie Fairfax-Ross (33).

David Scott (2-33) did a good job of restricting Wiltshire to beneath 200 from their 50 overs as the visitors closed on 195-9.

That total never looked likely to be enough, and certainly not when England Under-19s star Joseph Eckland teed off.

The opener timed the ball immaculately, showing Wiltshire what might have been possible had they been more positive at the start.

Eckland and captain Luke Webb (4) moved the score along to 47-0 before the latter was pinned lbw by Joseph King (3-40).

Hitting ten fours in his knock, Eckland (52) sped to a brisk half-century only to succumb on his 43rd ball when King forced him into offering a catch to Mynott.

That wicket brought the dynamic Sam Young to the crease and he helped Dorset breeze along at close to a run per ball.

King still remained dangerous, though, and he trapped last week’s centurion David Scott (19) leg before to check Dorset at 121-3.

Whiteley, who smashed six sixes in an over for Worcestershire back in 2017, thundered an elegant six into the sightscreen but perished for seven as Josh Croom had him caught by Mynott.

Dorset still needed 63 at this point but Young and new batter Alex Eckland were able to work the ball to all parts, Eckland (17no) sweeping and reverse-sweeping glorious fours.

Young passed 50 and ruthlessly picked off the bad balls, including a stunning flick off his hips for four over square leg’s head.

Fittingly, it was Young (74no) who finished the chase off with a massive six that nearly landed in the car park at the supermarket end.

His innings contained four boundaries and four sixes, off 81 balls, and once more showed why Dorset are a force to be reckoned with in this season’s NCCA Trophy.

They progress to the quarter-finals with a home tie at Wimborne on Sunday awaiting them and, on this evidence, few will relish the task of playing Webb’s men.