DORSET were forced to settle for a rain-affected draw with Wiltshire in their Durant Cricket National Counties Championship meeting at Wimborne.

Rain ruined the middle day’s play, meaning a draw was always the likely outcome and sparking an attacking spell of batting from both sides once they were assured of nothing to lose.

Back on day one, Dorset skipper Luke Webb won the toss and chose to bat on what is a traditionally batter-friendly deck at The Leaze.

Joseph Eckland certainly took to the conditions, blasting a tremendous 121 from 147 deliveries, including 16 boundaries and two sixes.

His century came after a maiden Dorset fifty for William Tripcony, who was dismissed for 53 by Wiltshire’s stand-out bowler Chris Aubrey (3-48).

Finn Gordon also made 40 as Dorset declared on 261-9 with a good chunk of overs remaining to make inroads into the Wiltshire order.

And their plan worked to perfection as Wiltshire ended the day five wickets down thanks to braces from Oliver Southon (2-75) and Hampshire star Felix Organ (2-59), plus a sole scalp for Henry Dunlop (1-24).

After the washout on day two, Wiltshire were forced to bat time to eradicate any chance of losing the game.

This resulted in a Herculean effort by Jake Goodwin, whose 83 came from a whopping 259 deliveries.

Aubrey also chipped in with 70 from 152 balls as Wiltshire frustrated Dorset.

However, the duo’s work allowed the middle order to explode into life with Will Naish and William Brown responsible for late fireworks.

Both men ended unbeaten, with Naish on 53 from 30 having dealt mainly in sixes, crashing four maximums and three boundaries, while Brown took 30 from 22 balls with two sixes and fours apiece.

Wiltshire ended their 90-over innings on 298-7, leaving the draw beyond all doubt.

Dorset batted for 16 overs and scored at close to a 100 strike rate, with Tripcony finishing on 26 not out.

However, Jacob Gordon continued his fine season in Dorset colours with 64 from 54 balls, a rapid knock containing 12 fours and a six.

Eventually, the captains shook hands and Dorset are now third in Western Division Two following a second successive draw, while Wiltshire stay top.

Dorset’s next assignment comes on Sunday in the NCCA Showcase game at home to Hampshire, also at Wimborne (11am).