DORSET have put themselves in a strong position to push for a first competitive win of the season against Shropshire at Dean Park.

Chris Park’s men restricted the visitors to 295 and hit the ground running with Masoor Khan (97*) closing in on a century with Dorset on 171-3 at the close of the first day’s play.

Mark Wolstenholme (3-71) got the hosts off to the perfect start, clean bowling Omar Ali for four before providing the delivery from which Park caught Robbie Clarke for a duck within the first two overs.

With Shropshire reeling on 6-2, Will Parton tried to get the scoreboard moving and cracked off a trio of fours before Jake Lilley (3-34) halted his progress.

Stubborn opener Stephen Leach (85) carried the fight and put on 51 for the fifth wicket alongside James Ralph (23) before Matt Higginbottom turned up the heat with 126 off 100 deliveries, including 13 fours and five sixes.

In response, Dorset’s path to glory soon hit a bump when Curtis Blakemore was dismissed for a duck but Ryan Scott (25) made a useful contribution, while Jake Lintott (36*) remains unbeaten alongside Khan.