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Tom Hicks

DROPPED catches and a poor batting display cost Dorset dear as they fell to a disappointing 32-run defeat against Lincolnshire in the MCCA Trophy at Sherborne School yesterday.

Tom Hicks's side were made to pay for putting Lincolnshire opener Martyn Dobson down three times as his fortunate 85 proved decisive in the end.

Dobson hung around stubbornly to underpin their moderate score of 205 for seven from an allocated 50 overs in rainy conditions.

Matt Metcalfe bagged three for 37 as no other Lincolnshire batsman got out of the 20s. But only Darren Cowley, with a watchful and impressively crafted 63, got among the runs as Dorset were restricted to 173 for nine in reply.

Defeat means Dorset's hopes of repeating their 2006 Lord's final appearance in the competition were severely diminished.

But they still have a chance to qualify as group four runners-up, but will probably have to beat Cambridgeshire and Buckinghamshire and hope other results go their way.

Assessing yesterday's performance, Dorset captain Tom Hicks said: "It's disappointing to lose and in hindsight you can highlight the catches we didn't take.

"That was one of the obvious reasons instrumental in why we lost, not having that killer instinct. But our batting, only one guy has got in there and made anything of it. We need to look at that.

"Even if you can't get going, you need to get singles and help the other guy out.

"We should show more application and attitude because we would normally back ourselves to reach a target of just over 200."

Key moments were Dorset, albeit fielding in far from ideal wet conditions, spilling at least five or six chances that allowed Lincolnshire's batsmen to get off the hook.

They also included the dismissal of classy Dorset batsman Steve Selwood for a duck and the departures of the Park brothers, Chris (eight) and Nick (duck), from successive deliveries by Lincolnshire pace bowler Elliot Wilson.

Cowley, who shone in a 113-minute stay that included one six and six fours, basically ran out of partners.

At one time it looked as though he would win the match on his own as Dorset were well up with the run rate.

But their hopes nose-dived when Cowley was caught behind by wicket-keeper Oliver Burford off Andy Carter's seam after notching 63 out of 132 for seven.

Hicks said: "The bottom line is we have to win two games out of two to have a realistic chance of going through now.

"We have the players to do it. It's just a case of the guys applying themselves and playing to their ability."

7:00am Monday 5th May 2008

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