NCCA Trophy 2022: Dorset beat Wales by six wickets

DORSET secured top spot in NCCA Trophy Group Four en route to the quarter-finals after a six-wicket triumph over Wales at Wimborne.

Luke Webb’s men knew victory would guarantee them qualification for the knockout phase of a second-straight limited overs tournament.

Earlier this season, the county side reached the semi-finals of the T20 Cup and they could yet emulate that achievement – or better – after their latest impressive win.

Their victory was predicated on winning the toss and a fine five-wicket haul from seamer Brad Currie, before a 99-run stand for the fifth wicket between Alex Eckland and David Scott saw them home.

With Dorset’s batting so often the standout in the white-ball season to date, this time their bowling unit arguably upstaged the batters.

Currie was in irresistible form early on, forcing Thomas Bevan to edge the first ball of the match behind to keeper Joe Eckland.

He then knocked over ex-Glamorgan batter Steve Reingold (5) to leave Wales in early trouble at 20-2.

Brad Currie took 5-28 to help Dorset bowl Wales out for 181 Picture: GRAHAM HUNT

Wickets continued to fall as Rob Pack (1-27), Ollie Breckon (1-32) and Scott (2-26) all contributed in the middle overs, Morgan Bevans (21) the only dismissed batter to breach the twenties.

Connor Brown (54) was meanwhile giving Dorset food for thought with a well-made 54 from 110 balls, comprising seven fours.

However, it was Scott who took a big double scalp as Cam Herring (0) and Brown departed to leave Wales on 109-6.

The return of Currie helped Dorset further reduce the visitors to 124-8, with Jacob Gordon (1-20) also removing Kieran Bull (4).

And while big-hitting tailenders Sam Jardine (32) and Richard Edwards (20) managed five boundaries and two sixes between them to boost Wales’ score, Currie (5-28) wrapped up his fifer and the innings by castling them both.

Chasing 182, Dorset lost Oli Soames (9) and Webb (0) in the space of six balls to Edwards (1-26) and Jason Foulkes (1-26) respectively.

Their innings was checked again at 56-3 when Sam Young (13) lofted a catch off Jardine (1-26) and the well-set Gordon (36) perished to Sam Pearce (1-33) to reduce Dorset to 88-4.

With Eckland and Scott now brought together, the pair batted sensibly early on to accumulate runs and keep a modest required run rate well within reach.

Scott in particular was able to capitalise on the solidity of Eckland’s play, attacking the Wales bowlers with eight fours.

Eckland (47no) also found the boundary regularly late in the chase, recording seven fours, but it was Scott who claimed a half-century, finishing unbeaten on 57 from 53 balls to clinch victory.

The duo amassed 99 in just 18 overs to underline Dorset's credentials as potential title winners, with the quarter-finals due to be played on Sunday, July 17.