DORSET are on the back foot after Cornwall bowled the visitors out for 136 on the first day of a rain-shortened MCCA Unicorns Championship Western Division clash in Redruth.

The Crows had reduced Dorset to 90-8 but a determined 27 not out from former Leicestershire off-spinner Jigar Naik helped jolt the away side into triple figures.

In reply, Cornwall reached 53-3 before rain intervened on a gloomy evening.

For a side placed second in the division, Dorset’s start was more befitting of one languishing in the lower reaches of the table.

Captain Luke Webb elected to bat first and soon Dorset were rocking at 30-3, Tom Wells (4-65) steaming through the top order of Alex Turner (7), Webb (2) and Scott Currie (1).

After offering brief resistance, Alex Eckland (20) was run out by James Turpin and Dorset’s position worsened to a woeful 58-6 when Ed Ellis (9) and Harry Fisher (2) followed cheaply.

Handy innings from Josh Digby (17), Luke Matthews and Simon Woodruff (both 18) added to Naik’s knock as Dorset’s tail wagged to provide momentum into Cornwall’s reply.

Brothers Scott (1-18) and Brad Currie (1-12) shared early wickets and Naik bowled Crows’ skipper Scott Harvey (29) minutes before the rain intensified to check the hosts, who trail by 83 runs.

Play resumes at 10.30am today.