9:20pm Monday 6th July 2009
By Phil Chard
SEAMERS Ed Denham, Dave Kidner and Mitch Wilson produced a devastating spell of bowling as Dorset grabbed firm control of their Minor Counties Championship clash against Berkshire at Dean Park today.
Denham bagged three wickets as Berkshire were left struggling on 129 for eight in their second innings at the close of the second day.
It means Berkshire only lead by 40 runs with two wickets in hand after Dorset took their overnight first innings score of 68 for two to 301 all out in 89 overs.
Berkshire had been dismissed for 212 on the opening day, with Denham – who now has an impressive eight-wicket haul in the match – claiming five for 28.
Denham cleaned up again in the final session today, bagging three for nine in a penetrative almost unplayable 12-over spell of which eight were maidens.
He was ably supported by Kidner, who claimed three for 46 as Berkshire’s batting collapsed, and Wilson, who got two for 51, as Dorset closed in on a second Western Division victory of the campaign.
Only former Hampshire player Jono McLean offered any serious resistance with 41.
Earlier, wicketkeeper-batsman Chris Park had shone with the bat for Dorset as he notched a vital 68 not out.
Aaron Williams took his overnight score of 28 not out to 53, while Matt Metcalfe (40), Simon Watkins (30), Tom Hicks (24) and Wilson (19) all got among the runs for Dorset.
Richard Logan, Tom Lambert and Steve Naylor all bagged three wickets apiece for Berkshire, but it was clearly Dorset’s day as they closed with seven points to Berkshire’s five.
Dorset will hope for fine weather tomorrow so they can finish the job off with a win to try and leap to the top of the Western Division ahead of their next championship match against current leaders Cheshire at Alderley Edge from July 26 to 28.
Dorset then host Shropshire and Wiltshire at Dean Park in August in their championship run-in.
Details: Berkshire 212 (R J Logan 51 not out, C P Crowe 45, Denham 5-28) and 129-8 (J J McLean 41, Denham 3-9, Kidner 3-46), Dorset 301 (C L Park 68 not out, A Williams 53, M J Metcalfe 40, Naylor 3-39, Lambert 3-58, Logan 3-99). Points: Dorset 7 Berkshire 5.
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