DORSET were left to toil in the Cheshire sunshine on the opening day of their Unicorns Championship clash at Nantwich today.

Western Division rivals Cheshire piled up 375 for seven in their first innings, with Dorset 21 for one at the close.

Purbrook's Josh McCoy was the only real highlight for the visitors, the opening bowler claiming four for 82.

Dorset made an encouraging start when McCoy had opener Calum Rowe caught by Jigar Naik with the score on four.

A stand of 65 between Danny Leech and Rick Moore (39) was broken when Scott Currie snaffled a smart catch to get rid of the latter, giving McCoy his second wicket.

But a partnership of 134 for the third wicket between Leech and Furqan Shafig (63) saw Cheshire move on to 203 for three.

Naik (2-95) trapped both Shafig and Leech (112) in front before helping Josh Digby (1-65) claim his only wicket when he caught Wayne White off the Bashley man’s bowling.

McCoy had Luke Robinson caught by Currie as Cheshire reached 283 for six before another stand, between Will Evans and Simon Normanton for the seventh wicket, yielded 60.

Evans (71) was caught behind by Chris Park as McCoy collected his fourth wicket with Normanton (37) remaining undefeated.

Dorset, who batted out 17 overs late in the day, also lost their first wicket with the score on four, New Milton's Tom Arnold caught behind by Evans off the bowling of White.