Dorset draw sees third place finish as Wiltshire take title

NCCA Cluberly Western Division 2, Chester Boughton Hall CC, 31 August - 2 September

Photo: Bob Shaw Photography

Centuries for Murray and Young...

Dorset 382-8 dec (86.1 overs) & 221-7 dec (43.2 overs), Cheshire 337-9 (90 overs) & 216-8 (65.5 overs).  Match drawn. Cheshire 11 points, Dorset 12 points

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With Cheshire, Dorset and Wiltshire all potential Western Division 2 champions ahead of this weekend's final matches, Wiltshire finally took the title and promotion after this tense draw at Chester Boughton Hall.

With no game of their own, Wiltshire could only watch on as Cheshire and Dorset locked horns - Cheshire needing a maximum 24 points to leapfrog both sides. Ultimately, Wiltshire took the title by a single point as Cheshire held out to draw in the gloom at Chester.

With Dorset declaring their first innings with eight wickets down on the first day, Cheshire were out of the title running early on but fought back admirably.

The need for maximum points led Cheshire skipper Dave Wainwright to put Dorset into bat on a traditional Chester flat deck that looked like offering something for the bowlers early on.

But they toiled for 86 overs as Joseph Eckland hit an excellent 137 and Greg Willows 95. A canny 4-77 from Wainwright suggested spin would play a important role throughout the game.

Cheshire had to negotiate a tricky session on the first evening, Henry Murray and Luke McCoy steadying the ship after a couple of early wickets.

Murray then came of age, scoring his maiden county ton - 109 from 188 balls (16 x 4s, 1x6). Luke Young kept the momentum going with a fine 64 as Cheshire adapted themselves well to see out their 90 overs on 337-9. Jo Carson took 3-70, Mo Abbas claiming 3-127 from a mammoth 37 overs.

A 45 run first innings lead meant Dorset needing quick runs to bowl out Cheshire second time around and a generous declaration at 221-7 saw the hosts looking for 267 from a potential 66 overs. Dylan Church was left high and dry on 96, Alex Eckland made 40.

At 19-3, victory looked a long way off and the Cheshire charge was effectively snuffed out. Enter Young to take control. Eventually unbeaten on 138, his century took 123 balls (15 x 4, 1 x 6).

However, this was no tame draw. Young's positive approach kept the runs flowing and although Cheshire weren't in the hunt, this and high end defending from Wainwright and Xander Selby frustrated a buoyant Dorset and saw things through. Will Bere had taken 4-33 and another major stint from Abbas (27 overs!) couldn't quite take the wickets, Dorset ultimately falling short by a point.

An enthralling three day game again went to the wire with Cheshire unbeaten in their championship campaign and signiifant successes across the four games. 

Congratulations to Wiltshire on taking the title. Their spot in Division 2 will be taken by Cornwall who are relegated from Division 1.