Devon put Wiltshire on the back foot (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Devon put Wiltshire on the back foot

WILTSHIRE struggled at Corsham on the opening day of their final Minor Counties Championship game of the season against Devon.

The match was brought forward a week as it would have clashed with Wiltshire's MCCA Knockout Cup final against Norfolk.

It resulted in Devon having to make several changes to their regular side but it made little difference.

The West Country side won the toss and elected to bat and smashed the ball all around the small Station Road ground.

They rattled up 323 all out off only 59 overs.

David Court struck a fine unbeaten century and was 115 not out, while one of the replacement batsmen, Sandford's David Lye, hit 84.

Richard Bedbrook was the best of the Wiltshire bowlers with 4-97, while James Golding took 3-34.

Wiltshire, in reply, collapsed after a good start and stood on 132-5 at the close of play.

Damian Shirazi (38) and Kevin Blackburn (30) put on over 50 runs for the first wicket but then the wickets tumbled to Bishop and left-armer Jones.

Wiltshire face a struggle on day two at 191 adrift with only five wickets in hand to avoid the follow on.