COUNTIES CRICKET T20 record for Dorset openers

Details

Last Updated on Monday, 30 June 2025 15:35

Published on Monday, 30 June 2025 06:20

Written by PAUL BOLTON Cricket Correspondent

Dorset opening pair Finn Gordon and Will Tripcony rewrote a chapter of the county’s record books to end Cornwall’s unbeaten record in the National Counties T20 competition at Wimborne.

Gordon and Tripcony swept Dorset to a ten wickets win in the second match of the day as they chased down a target of 180 without losing a wicket.


Their partnership of 183 was the biggest for Dorset in the competition and the second-highest partnership in the history of National Counties T20 cricket, bettered only by 240 from Cheshire openers Will Goodwin and Ollie Law against Oxfordshire 10 years ago.

It ended Cornwall’s winning sequence, which they had extended to five matches with a six runs victory in a high scoring opener, and also opened up Group Four with one round of double-headers to come next weekend.

Gordon made 101 not out – Dorset’s first century in the competition – and Tripcony 76 not out with Gordon improving his competition-best score for the second time in the day. He made 95 in the opening match in which he shared an opening stand of 76 with Tripcony (40).

They were eclipsed by former Kent batter Alex Blake who pummelled 101 from just 35 balls with ten sixes and seven fours in Cornwall’s first-ever T20 century.

Cornwall skipper Paul Smith made 75 not out in the second match but then had to watch as Gordon and Tripcony saw Dorset home with 17 balls to spare.

Honours were also shared between Herefordshire and Devon at Eastnor in the other group four double header.

Herefordshire won the opener by four wickets with two local Lukes – Powell and Tulacz – playing key innings after Devon had reached 126 for seven thanks to Adam Small’s breezy 40.

Devon, whose hopes of progressing to the Super 12 stage had been ended by a two points deduction for playing an unregistered player against Dorset, bowed out with a win as they eased to a 34 runs victory in the second match of the day.

Rhys Davies, back in the county side after an absence of 11 years, followed up 31 in the opener with 70 in the second match with skipper Lawrence Walker making 56 not out from 37 balls to boost Devon to 172 for three.

Opening batter Harry Passenger then starred in a less familiar role as an off-spinner to take five for 18 to dismiss Herefordshire for 138 despite 45 from Tulacz who was last out.

• < Prev
• Next >