Finchampstead’s Gary Loveday won the toss for Berkshire and elected to bat in a warm-up for the ECB Over 50s Championship.

Finchampstead’s Gary Loveday won the toss for Berkshire and elected to bat in a warm-up for the ECB Over 50s Championship.

The Berks skipper was in fine form with the bat, hitting a steady 67 as wickets fell around him.

Only Ronnie Brock hit more than 20 out of the other Berkshire batsmen as he contributed a quickfire 24 before being trapped LBW by David Trotter (1-32) By the time Tim Cowley (2-23) took the wicket of Loveday, Berkshire were 110-5, eventually ending their 45 overs on 160-9.

Dorset struggled to score freely in their reply but edged along, with opener Steve Webb hitting 25 from 85 balls before being caught.

It was Berkshire causing themselves the most problems as a total of 38 extras were added to the Dorset scorecard, compared to just seven given away by the visitors.

David Hartley (2-26) struck twice in quick succession to give Berkshire hope and by the time Tim Cowley (34) was bowled by Phil Ridgeway (3-32), Dorset were 132-6.

It promised to be a tense ending but only one more wicket fell and heading into the final over, Dorset needed two runs from six balls to secure victory.

Ridgeway took command in a bid to bowl an extremely tight over but it took just one ball for Stuart Nye to guide one over the boundary and secure the win for Dorset.

Berkshire are due to start their championship games with a home match against Essex at Henley Cricket Club next Wednesday (2pm).

Berkshire Over 60s lost by 62 runs to Hampshire Over 60s in the opening game of their ECB Championship campaign on Tuesday.

Keith Woodman took 3-4 but Geoff Beale’s fine innings of 108 helped Hampshire to 226-7 in their 45 overs.

In reply, captain Dave Tooze (70) and Chris Harding (37) gave Berkshire a solid platform, but they fell away to collapse from 113-1, ending on 164-9.

The Over 60s had previously beaten Buckinghamshire Over 50s by four runs in a thrilling game the Tuesday before.

Tooze led the way with a stunning 108 as Berkshire posted 224-5, and Bucks were restricted to 220-9 in reply.