da luck： Dorset were in dreamland at Bournemouth Sports after lifting their firstMinor Counties championship title – after 99 years of trying
Mike Berry13-Sep-2000Dorset were in dreamland at Bournemouth Sports after lifting their firstMinor Counties championship title – after 99 years of trying.They finally found the winning formula after losing out in both the previoustwo championship play-offs to gain some sweet revenge on Cumberland, theirconquerors at Netherfield last season, with a famous five wicket win.A sparkling 63 off 55 balls from Man-of-the-Match Darren Cowley was the keyto Dorset successfully chasing 193 to win. His third-wicket partnership of 80in 16.4 overs with Neil Thurgood (62) turned the challenge into a cakewalk,with Dorset clinching victory before tea on the final day in front of anotherhealthy Church Gate crowd.Cowley, the 23-year-old son of ex-Hampshire star Nigel and a South AfricanUnder 19 one-day international, hit seven fours and three sixes, and raced tohis half-century as anchor man Thurgood scored just nine at the other end.Dorset polished off the final Cumberland wicket in 21 balls at the start ofthe day, and though they lost Matt Swarbrick for just four, Glyn Treagus andThurgood added a watchful 67 in 40 overs to lay a solid platform.The departure of Treagus for 27 brought Cowley to the wicket, and the beefyleft-hander quickly launched a powerful assault on the Cumberland bowlers.His 57-minute stay at the crease dramatically raised the tempo. When he losthis leg stump to David Pennett, having made 63 off only 55 balls, Dorset were151 for three and victory was in sight.The Cumberland attack gained little assistance from the pitch and Tim Lambprovided a fitting conclusion to a memorable Dorset season by wrapping up thewin by hoisting leg spinner Simon Kippax for a straight six.Dorset skipper Stuart Rintoul said: “We have played some great cricket thisseason and it’s a wonderful feeling to lift the title.”It seems it’s been a long time coming after getting to the final threeyears on the trot but I think we deserved to win it the way we haveperformed.”We lost last year’s final at Netherfield in one bad session and we probablywon this year’s by having a good afternoon on the second day. We took wicketsand pegged Cumberland back. Darren Cowley then turned things in our favourwith a great innings.”A lot of this team has come through our colts side and they are still veryyoung. The future for Dorset cricket looks very rosy.”