DORSET moved into a solid position on day one of their Unicorns Championship Western Division clash with Herefordshire at Bashley.
Dorset have discovered a rich vein of form in all three disciplines of the game this season and continued with a promising display in the New Forest.
Having won the toss and invited Dorset to field, the visitors might have questioned their decision as Ed Bartlett (1-29) and the in-form Brad Currie sharply removed Herefordshire’s top three batsmen.
At 20 for three, Mahaaz Ahmed (51) and David Ball rebuilt until Currie accounted for the former.
Ball (74) soldiered on, facing 202 balls despite Jigar Naik spinning his way to 4-70 as the Dorset attack, which conceded just nine extras with no wides, bowled out the visitors for 213 off 89.4 overs.
Home skipper Luke Webb promoted himself to open up Dorset’s reply and the Bournemouth batsman duly cantered to an unbeaten 44 from 68 balls.
Alex Turner (17) was the only man to fall with the hosts on 94 for one at the close, Alex Eckland hitting 27 not out from 31 balls including two fours and a six, as Dorset ate into Herefordshire’s lead.
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