DORSET brought down the curtain on one of the most dismal seasons in their long and proud history with another demoralising defeat this week.
A comprehensive 10-wicket hammering at the hands of Wales saw them land the dreaded wooden spoon in the Western Division of the Minor Counties Championship.
Wales, last year's cellar-dwellers, administered the final blow to Dorset's sorry season when they condemned them to defeat inside two days at Dean Park.
Seeking a first championship victory since July 2012, Dorset had a 10th-wicket partnership of 70 between Mark Wolstenholme and JJ Dewes to thank for sparing them further humiliation.
Although Masoor Khan (54) stood firm, Dorset slumped to 105 for nine in their first innings before Wolstenholme (54) and Dewes guided them to 175.
And although the Wales reply stuttered to 160 for six, a seventh-wicket stand of 173 between Stuart Thomas (98) and Aneurin Norman (83) helped the visitors pile up 339.
Needing 164 to avoid the ignominy of a second innings defeat of the season, debutant Sam Thomson (53) from Parley was Dorset's only shining light at they were shot out for 173.
Wales eased to 10 without loss, sentencing Dorset to a seventh successive Western Division defeat since their last victory against Shropshire 13 months ago.
Since winning the national Minor Counties Championship pennant in 2010, Dorset have managed just two wins in their past 18 matches.
Their solitary victory this season came in an MCCA Knockout Trophy group tie against Berkshire in May.
Together with six defeats in the Western Division, they also lost one friendly and two other Knockout Trophy games.
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