WILTSHIRE 258-7d & 223-4 drew with DORSET 391-9d & 118-2d

DORSET earned 11 points from their rain-affected Durant NCCA Championship match with Wiltshire.

Dorset skipper Luke Webb won the toss, chose to bat first and saw his side reduced to 5-2 as Jacob Gordon (0) and David Scott (1) perished early on.

Webb (35) then piled on 104 with the magnificent Sam Young, who once more made mincemeat of an opposition bowling attack.

He shared a whopping 204 with Alex Eckland (96), the latter cruelly falling short of a century when edging Chris Aubrey (2-77) behind.

Young was next to fall, leaving Dorset on 352-5, when Ed Young (3-71) had him caught for a majestic 177 off 231 balls, including 17 fours and two sixes.

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Webb declared with Dorset on 391-9 and the Wiltshire innings was then split over the three days when rain wiped out the middle day.

The elements made for an exciting final day as Wiltshire elected to declare on 258-7, still 133 behind.

Former Dorset all-rounder Harry Broderick struck 56 not out and Jack Stearman added 49, with Jake Goodwin (38) and Dylan Church (36) also adding meaty scores.

What happened next was scarcely believable as Wiltshire tempted Dorset into an ultra-fast declaration of their second innings by opening with part-time bowlers.

Tom Cullen, Wiltshire’s wicketkeeper, was belted around the ground and ended with 1-67 from four overs.

Stearman (1-44) fared little better from his three overs as Gordon plundered 66 not out from 24 balls, including six sixes and five boundaries.

Scott smashed 35 from 11 balls, hitting six boundaries and a maximum, before Dorset declared on 118-2 from just seven overs, a run rate of 16.86.

Webb’s declaration set Wiltshire 252 to win and they built smartly to 87-0 before Jack Mynott (43) fell to Ben Chaffey (1-26).

Ed Bartlett (3-36) claimed two wickets in three balls when ousting Stearman (11) and Cullen (0) as Wiltshire reached 116-3.

At that point, Wiltshire needed 136 more to win with Church well placed on 60 not out from 90 balls.

The hosts had a decision to make in trying to win the game or to stifle Dorset’s attack for a draw.

In the end, although they scored at a brisk rate, the match was ceremoniously called a draw when Church (102no) launched Ben Fletcher (0-40) for six to complete his century.

He shared an unbroken 101 for the fifth wicket with Jake Goodwin, whose brisk 61 not out came off just 52 balls.

Dorset are next in action against Wales at Wimborne on Sunday (11am).