COUNTIES CRICKET Dorset aim for Trophy final joy
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- Created on Sunday, 13 July 2025 03:29
- Last Updated on Monday, 14 July 2025 06:29
- Published on Sunday, 13 July 2025 03:29
- Written by PAUL BOLTON Cricket Correspondent
s his players to enjoy the occasion as well as trying to bring home the county’s first silverware in 15 years when they take on Shropshire in the National Counties Trophy final at Chester Boughton Hall today (1100).Dorset’s last title was the National Counties Championship – then Minor Counties Championship – in 2010 but they have not appeared in the final of the 50 overs competition since 2006 and their sole success in the format came back in 1988 when they beat Cambridgeshire by two wickets in the final at Weymouth.
Dorset beat a fancied Berkshire side in the semi-finals at Finchampstead and, having since qualified for the Super 12s stage of the National Counties T20 competition, they will head to Chester full of confidence.
“Everyone is really excited about reaching the final but we also know that it will be a tough job. Shropshire are obviously a good side having made the final in their own right,” Lawrence said.
“So, we are under no illusions. It will be a tough one like the semi-final against Berkshire and it will be who comes out on top in the key moments in the game.
“When you get to these stages in competitions it’s about putting a complete performance together and making sure that we win the key moments in the game.
“As a group we are really happy with where we are. We have been playing some really good cricket throughout the competition. So, we should take a lot of confidence from that and take a lot of confidence from a really good performance against Berkshire. If we do the same on Sunday against Shropshire we are going to give ourselves the best opportunity to walk away with some silverware.
“We have got a group of lads who are quite grounded. They know the importance of the occasion but also the importance of enjoying it and enjoying each other’s company like we have done all season and in the two previous years since I have been in place. Everyone enjoys playing with each other and they enjoy each other’s company.”
As Dorset and Shropshire have met only twice previously in the competition – in 1985 and 1995 – there is no useful recent form guide ahead of tomorrow’s final. Shropshire have won all six of their Trophy matches this season, Dorset’s only defeat came in their final group match against Cheshire at Didsbury and both sides have similar bowling attacks and depth in batting.
“They are similar to us in that they go with four spinners and three seamers. But we are focused on what we do. We have plans in place. We have Plan A but if Plan A isn’t working then we have to make sure that we have Plan B and that we execute that,” Lawrence said.
“So far in this competition the lads have done that really well. Communication has been a massive part of this group. There are a lot of really good cricketers in the group and smart cricketers, thinking cricketers. That’s what it is going to take to get everyone together to get us over the line on Sunday.”
Dorset expect to have Hampshire pair Felix Organ and Joe Eckland available for the final while Shropshire will hope that former Worcestershire batter Tom Fell can continue his rich vein of form in the competition – 266 runs this season including a match-winning half-century in the semi-final victory over Suffolk.
“It’s the same as with all good players - and Shropshire will be saying about us - you want to get them early. But if you don’t get them early then with someone like Tom if you can keep him off strike as much as possible and starve him of the strike and build pressure that way,” Lawrence said.
While Shropshire’s players will be able to enjoy a short hop across the county boundary for the final, some of Dorset’s squad face a longer drive after they have played for their clubs.
“We have got some players who will be playing club cricket on Saturday but the majority of the squad will be coming straight up and not playing club cricket on Saturday,” Lawrence said.
“The message will be the same as it has been throughout which is: prepare the best we can and look at doing a really good job on Sunday. We will prepare the same as we have all through the competition There is no reason why it should change. Keep things the same and keep everyone happy.”
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