SPIN king Jack Leach admits he’d love to return to Dean Park next year to help Dorset defend the Minor Counties Championship title.

The teenage slow bowler wreaked havoc at the picturesque Bournemouth ground yesterday as Lincolnshire slumped to 118 all out chasing 254 for victory in this season’s final.

Leach, who is due to spend two more campaigns with Somerset on summer contracts, plundered six for 21 as Dorset quickly wrapped up a 135-run triumph shortly after lunch on the final day of four.

It took the Taunton-born 19-year-old’s match tally to seven for 78 in only his second championship appearance for Dorset, and helped the county secure their second title since they joined the competition in 1902.

Leach had bagged a stunning 13 for 146 in a vital Western Division victory over Herefordshire at Dean Park on his Dorset debut in July.

Lincolnshire, who got 254 in their first innings, had begun the day on six without loss second time out, needing another 248 for success after Dorset had posted 245 and 262.

But they lost opener Martyn Dobson to the day’s eighth delivery from seamer Mitch Wilson before Leach, Glyn Treagus (2-10) and Ed Denham (1-19) did the rest of the damage in double quick time.

A lot of Lincolnshire’s hopes relied on whether ex-Nottinghamshire batsman Vikram Atri could emulate his superb first innings knock of 118.

Batting at three, however, he fell to Denham for 24 after a superb full-length diving catch from Max Waller running in from extra cover, with the visitors’ score on 44 for four.

Then, after a fighting 44-run fifth-wicket partnership between Phil Cook (18) and Liam Andrews (35) was broken by Leach, Lincolnshire’s tail was swept away as Atri was left to make do with the man-of-the-match award.

Leach said: “I’m very proud I took six wickets and it was nice to help the Dorset lads clinch the title.

“There were a lot of other contributors like Max, who took four wickets in their first innings, Ed, who got 71 runs in our second innings, and Glyn Treagus, who got 80 in our first innings, so it was very much an all-round team effort.

“I did feel under a bit more pressure after taking 13 wickets in my previous game, but I wasn’t expecting the same thing to happen. I tried not to think about it, just bowled how I knew I could bowl and it worked.

“Now I’d definitely love to play for Dorset again. I’m massively looking forward to next year and will hopefully get involved a lot earlier in the season in the one-dayers. I’ve really enjoyed it here and want to try to help them win the title again.”