CAPTAIN Chris Park lauded the inspired Sam Thomson but insisted a team effort had earned Dorset their first Minor Counties Championship win of the season.

Dorset saw off Cheshire by eight wickets in a thrilling finale at Chapel Gate on Tuesday, the hosts getting across the finish line with three overs to spare.

Bashley spinner Thomson was the hero of the hour after taking 11 wickets across both Cheshire innings. However, Park was keen to spread the praise across the whole team.

Park told the Daily Echo: "Sam has been playing Minor Counties for three or four years and it was his first five-wicket haul for Dorset in Cheshire's first innings.

"He was chuffed to bits and as a team, we were really pleased for him. It was well deserved. When he backed that up with six wickets in their second innings, we couldn't have asked for any more.

"But it's a team game and every one of the 11 players had something to do in those three days.

"I'm really pleased for Mas Khan who batted beautifully, kept the momentum going and got us over the winning line.

"Josh Digby took a couple of catches and got a really important run-out in the first innings, Brad Currie got his first Championship wicket and Rob Pack got two wickets on the final day.

"From one to 11, it was a really good performance.

"That's what cricket is about. If someone has a bad session or a bad half an hour, team-mates are there to back them up and keep things moving forward."

Dorset chased down 153 in 30 overs on the final day and Park felt his team's run to the Unicorns Trophy semi-final had aided them in reaching that target.

He added: "We've had a lot of close one-day games this year and maybe that showed. To get 150-odd off 30 overs is more of a one-day scenario.

"In the first 15 overs, Mas and Tom Arnold looked like they were playing one-day cricket on a flat pitch.

"Later on, Luke Webb and Mark Wolstenholme took the pressure off Mas by hitting some boundaries at much-needed times."