WILTSHIRE surrendered their promising overnight position to leave themselves facing another disappointing defeat after a wicket-laden second day of their Minor Counties Champions Western Division clash against Devon at Exmouth.

The visitors started the middle day's play in a strong position having reduced the home side to 27-3 at stumps on day one after posting an imposing 357 in their own first innings.

Things looked even brighter for Joe Breet's men as they left their hosts floundering at 73-5 before the Devon tail wagged.

A partnership of 103 for the sixth wicket between Josh Bess and Rhys Davies took the home side on to 176 before Matt Golding and Trevor Anning added 69 for the ninth wicket to get their side to within 71 of the Wiltshire total.

There were three wickets each for Wiltshire's Tahir Afridi, Jake Roberts and Tom Bowler.

Loking to rebuild an imposing target, Wiltshire's second-innings woes, so common this summer, returned again as they were dismissed in just over 40 overs.

Only Bowler (32) and Neil Clark (24) made much impression as Devon's bowlers struck back, Bess taking 4-36 and Anning and Chris Bradley helping themselves to three each.

That set Devon 215 to win and they had knocked off 35 of those runs without loss by stumps.

NEWS OF THE FINAL DAY'S PLAY IN EXMOUTH AT GAZETTEANDHERALD.CO.UK/SPORT AND WILTSHIRETIMES.CO.UK/SPORT AND REACTION IN THURSDAY'S GAZETTE & HERALD AND FRIDAY'S WILTSHIRE TIMES