Perry ton as Cheshire win at Dorset

Cheshire 294 (50 overs), Dorset 192 (42 overs). Cheshire won by 102 runs

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Harry Dearden's Cheshire side got their 2024 KO Trophy campaign off to a flyer beating Dorset by 102 runs at Dorchester.

Sam Perry made 112 and there were significant contributions throughout as Cheshire moved on from last week's T20 disappointment.

The long journey south gave  a chance to re-group with a side including Owen Feakes behind the stumps and the return of Chris Sanders after illness..

Put into bat on a pitch that had been under water just two week's previously, it was a confident start for the visitors.

Perry took control from the off and was well supported by Dearden (30), Kevin Carroll (28) and Joe Cook (27). He was finally out with the score on 253 and a late flourish moved things to 294. On a big, lush outfield, the visitors managed the innings well, good shot selection for ones and twos and agile running between the wickets supplementing the big shots. Pick of the Dorset bowlers was opener Matt Burton with 3-55.

The Cheshire new ball attack of Sanders and Rob Lord looked powerful and with Dorset restricted to 18-2, things looked tough before an excellent third wicket partnership of 113 between Joseph Eckland (58) and brother Alex (53) turned things round. 

But the pair had to up the ante as Dearden (3-38) and Xander Selby (3-54) applied the pressure. The two went in the space of four runs to leave the hosts a mountain to climb at 135-4. 

As Cheshire turned the screws, scoreboard pressure took over and Dorset sucumbed to 192 all out.

in the field