YORKSHIRE were keeping their fingers tightly crossed for a big improvement in the weather today as they prepared for their first ever meeting with Minor Counties' side, Dorset, in the second round of the Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy at Bournemouth.

It is 18 years since Yorkshire last played at Dean Park in a Championship match against Hampshire and although today's contest can run into a second day if necessary because of rain interruptions, the Tykes will be eager to get things wrapped up just as quickly as possible.

Dorset reached the second round by virtue of beating Buckinghamshire 4-1 in a bowl out after rain washed out play just when Dorset were about to reply to their opponents 272-6.

With Yorkshire's bowlers too often bowling wide of the stumps this season, they would not relish a similar situation arising in this game.

Having lost their first two totesport League games by wide margins, Yorkshire were relieved to lift themselves off the bottom of the table by beating Scotland on Sunday and they are looking to the Dorset match as another means of improving their form before they meet county opposition again.

Director of cricket, David Byas, is taking nothing for granted, however, and he is well aware how easy it is to trip up against lesser opponents with nothing to lose on what is one of their biggest days of the season.

"We want to have a good run in the C&G and we just cannot afford to take Dorset lightly," said Byas. "We must be on our guard all the time and play the best cricket that we can."

With Australian Ian Harvey out injured and Matthew Hoggard made unavailable by England, 19-year-old Sheriff Hutton paceman Nick Thornicroft travelled to Bournemouth keen to get the chance of making his first appearance of the season.

Byas promised before the season began that there would be no shortage of opportunities for younger players and if Thornicroft plays and does well it could help him secure a permanent place in the side because none of his pace colleagues have so far covered themselves in glory.

It is true that the wretched weather has left them short of match practice and there is little cricket over the next few days in which to get their rhythm back.

Yorkshire stay down South until Sunday when they play Somerset at Taunton in the totesport League and their next game after that is the Championship clash with Hampshire which begins a week today at Headingley.

Updated: 11:02 Wednesday, May 05, 2004