CRICKET: Future is bright for Wiltshire (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

CRICKET: Future is bright for Wiltshire

11:00am Friday 7th September 2012 in Sport

WILTSHIRE team manager Neil Shardlow says that he’ll never forget the county side’s ‘rollercoaster’ season.

Wiltshire finished third in the MCCA Championship Western Division and there was no fairytale ending to their sensational KO Trophy run as they were beaten in the final by Cumberland last week.

But Shardlow is hoping that his players will bounce back stronger from narrowly failing to write their name in the history books and thinks that the future is bright for Wiltshire.

“It has definitely been a season that I’ll always remember and it’s been fantastic to be a part of,” said Shardlow.

“The guys were broken-hearted in the dressing room after the final last week and hearing all the speeches and watching Cumberland lift the trophy was really difficult for them.

“It’s tough but hopefully that can spur us on to try and make sure we do better when we get into that situation again.

“We’ve got the nucleus of a side that could challenge again in years to come and with the players that are coming through the academy into the first-team, there’s going to be a lot more competition for places next year.”

Wiltshire batted first and saw Ashur Morrison top-score with 59.

But Cumberland’s Chris Thompson claimed a hat-trick with the wickets of Henry Langford, Owen Alsop and Tom Bowler in quick succession.

With Wiltshire out for 184, Cumberland raced home, with Josh Tolley hitting 67 and Jonathan Miles 41 as they eased to 183-3 in just over 32 overs.