CAPTAIN Danny Leech is optimistic that Cheshire’s persistence will pay dividend after they were held to a draw by Dorset.

His side is still searching for a first victory of the season in the Unicorns Championship Western Division as a result, but the Oulton Park batsman is remaining upbeat.

“There’s not much wrong with how we’re going about things,” he said.

“We’ve still got a lot of cricket to play, and two of our remaining games are at home, although of course it was disappointing not to push on and win from a commanding position.”

Opener Leech (112) himself crafted a fine century on the opening day at Nantwich, where Furqan Shafiq (63) and big-hitting Will Evans (71) also contributed half-centuries to an innings that closed on 375-7.

Cheshire’s bowlers then played their part to dismiss the visitors for 211 with Danny Woods (4-66) the pick of their attack.

Leech asked Dorset, still 164 runs adrift, to follow on.

However the away side's batsmen more stubborn second time around and they arrived at 312-8 by the close of a rain-affected third day.

Woods (5-116), recalled to the side, bowled 45 overs – increasing his wicket-haul to nine for the contest – and Wayne White weighed in with 3-82.

Ed Ellis (100no) was the stand-out performer.

Cheshire sit sixth in the table at halfway.

They travel to Truro to take on Cornwall in a fortnight, the start of a busy – and significant – sequence that includes appearances at both the T20 Finals day and in the Knockout Trophy final before the end of the month.

Cheshire | Calum Rowe (Alderley Edge); Danny Leech (captain, Oulton Park); Rick Moore (Chester Boughton Hall); Furqan Shafiq (Timperley); Wayne White (Leek); Will Evans (wicket-keeper, Neston); Luke Robinson (Nantwich); Simon Normanton (Stockport Georgians); Ben Aitchison (Formby); Danny Woods (York); Chris Charles (Alvanley). 12th man: Bailey Wightman (Hyde)