CHESHIRE lost a three-day match for the first time in more than two years on Monday when they were beaten by five wickets by Dorset at Nantwich.
Their last defeat was at the hands of Devon in the Minor Counties Championship Western Division on June 15, 2004, when they were also beaten by five wickets at Oxton.
Resuming on the final day 136 ahead with just two wickets in hand, Andy Hall's men managed to add only two more runs to their overnight tally leaving Dorset chasing 139 for victory.
Heaton Mersey pace ace John Farrow returned figures of 3-63 in his first county game of the season, but 57 from Darren Cowley helped Dorset over the winning line.
'I'm very disappointed we've lost, but we didn't score enough runs in our first innings,' admitted skipper Hall.
'There was some very pleasing individual performances, but 139 is not a very big total and Dorset were always favourites to get it.'
Cheshire's best performers were Nathan Dumelow, the former Derbyshire all-rounder who scored 156 in Cheshire's second innings, and Neston's Chris Finnegan, who claimed three wickets and an un-beaten 72. Hyde's James Duffy finished the match with 74 runs.
'I think a target of 200 would have made things very interesting,' added Hall, who guided Cheshire to the Minor Counties title last season after four barren years.
'I'd love for us to be able to defend the Western Division title and our overall crown, but it's unlikely that will happen now.'
