A maiden five wicket Minor Counties haul from seamer Ted Baylis helped Shropshire to an impressive Championship success over Dorset at Bournemouth.

Baylis took 5-24 in the hosts’ second innings yesterday to help Shropshire to a 97-run victory as Dorset’s attempts to chase 255 for victory – which would have been the highest score of the match – fell well short.

Dorset entered this game second in the western division, but found themselves on the backfoot throughout thanks to some disciplined Shropshire bowling.

Baylis took the plaudits with nine wickets in the game and was aided by some fine catching as Dorset, who were dismissed for 71 in the first innings, crumbled for the second time.

Resuming their second innings on 143-8, Shropshire added a further 24 before Steve Taylor and Baylis were dismissed yesterday morning.

That edged the lead over 250 and Shropshire’s hopes of forcing victory were boosted with two early breakthroughs from Taylor who had Glyn Treagus caught by Richard Oliver at short leg before accounting for Nick Park caught by Michael Barnard.

But it was then the turn of Baylis, who took a little while to find his length, to take centre stage as he single-handedly reduced Dorset from 36-1 to 63-7.

Aaron Williams managed just 12 managed before being trapped leg before by Baylis who then accounted for Nick Watkins, Tom Hicks, Simon Watkins and Matt Metcalfe, Atiq Chishti and Ed Foster taking fine catches during a sensational hour for Shropshire Taylor and Andy Gray then each took a wicket before the Dorset tail made one final, resolute stand.

David Payne struck some hefty blows in the closing stages to make a rapid 46 as the last pair put on 63 runs.

But when he holed out to Taylor at square leg off the bowling of Gray midway through the afternoon session, Shropshire were able to celebrate the second and most impressive victory of their three-day campaign.

By JAMES GARRISON