A much improved Hampshire performance against Dorset at Dean Park saw the Seniors regain the Hants/Dorset Shield for the first time in three years & also put their ECB 50+ qualification aspirations back on track.  

Led by skipper Alan Wright who scored a sparkling 100 not out with a six off the last ball of the innings and well supported by Mike Swain (52) & Chris Wood (44), the Seniors dominated the Dorset bowling. A well paced batting performance with the tempo increasing throughout ended with the Seniors posting a formidable 265-5 from 45 overs. 

In reply, the Dorset openers Webb (43) & skipper Lowton (92) put on 121 for the first wicket off 26 overs before Terry Rawlins had Webb caught in the deep by Wright. At one stage it looked as though Dorset may challenge the Hampshire total but steady bowling by Wood & Swain with two wickets each, teased out the potential Dorset big hitters & their innings collapsed from 191-3 to 196-7 in the space of 7 balls. Thereafter the Seniors coasted home to a comfortable 52 run victory & put the memory of the Devon defeat behind them. 

They can now look forward with confidence to two home fixtures against Cornwall at Paultons on Wed 13 June followed by the Isle of Wight at Lymington on Wed 27 June & the opportunity to consolidate their position in the Group.