Dowen made his first-class debut for Leicestershire against Northamptonshire in the 1925 County Championship. He played three further first-class matches in that seasons County Championship. Dowen next appeared in first-class cricket for Leicestershire in the 1935 County Championship against Yorkshire, before making two further first-class appearances for the county, one in the 1936 County Championship against Northamptonshire, and against the touring Australians in 1938. In his seven first-class appearances, he scored a total of 187 runs at an average of 15.58, with a high score of 44.
