Wilts batsmen pile up runs (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Wilts batsmen pile up runs

WILTSHIRE produced their best batting display of the season by far in their penultimate Minor Counties Championship game of the season.

Asked to bat first by Shropshire, they made hay while the sun shone at Whitchurch as the hosts bowlers toiled.

Wiltshire put them to the sword, rattling up a magnificent 439-7 off their allotted 90 overs.

Michael Coles led the way with a brilliant 119 while opener Damian Shirazi also notched a century with 106.

There was a half century for Baqar Rizvi (77) , while skipper Russell Rowe struck 42.

The first wicket partnership of Shirazi and Blackburn produced 56 runs, while Shirazi and Rowe realised 74.

Then Coles featured in two century partnerships of 135 and 142 with Shirazi and Rizvi respectively to take Wiltshire to a maximum four batting points.

Apart from Duncan Catterall, who took 4-98, there was little joy for the rest of the home attack as Wiltshire's Rowe and James Golding were both run out.

In reply at the close of play after the allotted 110 overs had been completed Shropshire were 81-1 off 20 overs.