GILL MITCHELL celebrated her return to the England starting line-up by unleashing the dramatic comeback that enabled Hampshire to snatch a 39-38 Walker Cup victory over Dorset.

Mitchell - a Commonwealth Games gold medallist at Manchester two summers ago - was dropped to a reserve berth last year by England but following the trials at Leamington Spa she has regained her position in the elite 24, having first been selected for her country in 1993 during her days as a Northamptonshire bowler.

She is not the only Hampshire player on England duty as Elizabeth Messer - also a reserve last season and a seasoned outdoor international - has kept her place in the squad, again as a travelling reserve for the British Isles International Series which is being held in conjunction with the British Isles Championships in Jersey from June 16-22.

With eight ends to be played across the green at Alderbury Hampshire were staring defeat in the face as they were 35-26 down. Although Messer, Julie Saunders, Kay Kerley and Mitchell led 18-15 at 17 ends, Atherley's Wendy Line was 20-8 adrift against Rosemary Spetch.

Hampshire desperately needed inspiration to avoid disappearing from the double rink Championship at the first hurdle for the second successive year - and Mitchell and her rinkmates provided it with a vengeance.

On their 18th end Dorset were holding shot until EWBA president Kerley drew for Hampshire and Mitchell increased the count to a morale-boosting five.

A single on the next end when Mitchell took out Dorset's shot wood sent the Hampshire skip 24-15 ahead and then she followed with a four on the 20th which floored Dorset overall.

Line also played her part in the revival. She was given a torrid time by Spetch and when 21-9 behind after 19 ends she was facing the loss of another three shots on the 20th until using weight to hit the head and spring the jack which earned Hampshire a vital shot.

Line took her final end as well in a 21-11 defeat but the majestic Mitchell had helped Hampshire go 39-36 ahead on aggregate and she was quite happy to concede a last-end two without having to bowl her final wood after giving the mat to Dorset for the 21st end as she was entitled to do under the new rules.

Hampshire now play either Devon, who beat them last year, or Cornwall, in the first round on Thursday, June 10.

RINK SCORES:

Jean Arnaud, Anne Pearce (both Atherley), Brenda Plumpton (Fleet United), Wendy Line (Atherley) 11 Freda Yates (Blandford), Frances Hewett (Bridport), Viv Mansell (Swanage), Rosemary Spetch (Poole Park) 21;

Elizabeth Messer (Southbourne), Julie Saunders (Richmond Park), Kay Kerley (Oakley), Gill Mitchell (Richmond Park) 28 Margaret Mitchell, Sheila Baker (both Greenhill), Diane Sekjer, Janet Green (both West Moors) 17.