COACH Alan Willows heaped praise on Dorset’s youngsters before targeting a final flourish against Cornwall at Dean Park from Sunday (11am).

Going into the three-day clash, the county have turned round their Unicorns Counties Championship season having enjoyed a three-match unbeaten run after opening with two heavy defeats.

Willows, pictured, told the Daily Echo: “We have come a long way in the past three or four games, the younger players have picked up a lot of experience. I think as long as they are still learning that’s a good thing.

“If we win this last game against Cornwall then we could finish as high as third. You always go out to try and win it but, from where we were after the first two games, to finish there would be a great credit to the players because they have put in a lot of effort.

“You could say some of the young players have stood up and won some of the later games and that could be down to continuity, in that they have settled in the side.”

Mike Kitson will be unavailable for the clash due to a side strain but former captain Tom Hicks returns to the fold.

Willows added: “Cornwall are not coming here just to lie down and from our point of view both sides are going to try and win. It won’t be a negative game of cricket so a lot of spectators should see a good game.”

Dorset: (from) Khan, Porter, Scott, Webb, Lintott, Park, Hicks, Wolstenholme, Thomson, Hayman, Carpenter.