COUNTY CRICKET: WILTSHIRE staged a spirited recovery in their first Minor Counties Championship match of the season against Dorset at Corsham to earn a draw after having been forced to follow on.

At the end of the third day it was Dorset who had to play out time with only three wickets left and still 48 runs short of their target.

Wiltshire won the toss on Sunday and put Dorset in on a damp wicket and at tea they had reached 200 for the loss of five wickets aqgainst some steady Wiltshire bowling.

Dorset captain Stuart Rintoul then played a remarkable innings of 139 in only 91 balls to enable Dorset to reach 392 for eight when the innings closed after 100 overs. Tim Lamb scored 81 and Martin Miller 79.

For Wiltshire, Kevin Nash took three for 95 and Craig Gibbens three for 97.

Wiltshire started badly in their reply and only newcomer Kevin Blackburn (59) played a major innings and they were all out for 183. Sean Wallbridge took six for 38.

Wiltshire again had a poor start after having been asked to follow on, stand-in captain Russell Rowe bagging a pair, and at the end of the second day were 76 for two, still needing 133 to make Dorset bat again.

But Wiltshire fought back well on the third day, led by debutant Chris Budd, who made 112.

He was well supported by Mark Coxon (35), Richard Bates (32), Neil Shardlow (25) and Jason Searle (24) and with a last wicket stand of 33 between Kevin Nash (40 not out) and Craig Gibbens (16) took their total to 351 all out, leaving Dorset 22 overs to score 143 to win. For Dorset, Wallbridge returned his second five wicket haul of the match, finnishing with figures of five for 108.

Dorset made a spirited attempt to get the runs but wickets fell regularly, with Kevin Nash taking five for 33 off nine overs and with seven wickets down for 85 and five overs remaining, they settled for a draw ending at 95 for seven.

Wiltshire took eight points and Dorset 11.

Wiltshire's next match is a 38 County Cup match against Dorset at Swindon on June 16.