WILTSHIRE team manager Neil Shardlow has said there is still work to do after their season got off to a mixed start over the Easter weekend.

The county's match on the Saturday against Frocester was cancelled after the ground was deemed unfit, but they were able to record a win on Sunday against Gloucestershire by 79 runs, before falling to a defeat by six wickets against Dorset on Easter Monday.

Wiltshire won the toss against Gloucestershire in the 40 overs match and were all out for 200, with Michael Coles picking up where he left off last year top scoring with 62.

In reply, the young Gloucestershire side found runs hard to get on a slow wicket and were all out for 121 as Ed Young took 3-22 and Nick Harrison 3-14.

“The first game on Saturday against Gloucester was called off due to the weather, so not a great start,” said Shardlow.

“We have got quite a large squad that we wanted to have a look at over the three games and we haven’t had the opportunity to look at everyone.

“In the game against Gloucester on Sunday we performed pretty well.

“Disappointingly we didn’t bat our full 40 overs but the wicket wasn’t easy, it was quite slow and wet and difficult to score on.

“There were not many problems in terms of issues there. A couple of little niggles but they are just early season things we need to get over really.”

On Monday against Dorset in a 50 overs match, Wiltshire again chose to bat and after a good opening stand of 49 between Ed Kilbee (15) and Uzi Qureshi (17) they collapsed to 104 for nine wickets before a last wicket stand of 44 between Steve Warner and Tom Foley took the score to 148 all out in 45 overs.

In reply Dorset had little trouble in reaching their target with 19 overs remaining for the loss of just four wickets.

“We made five or six changes from the side that played on Sunday and they didn’t perform very well at all,” added Shardlow.

“We managed to take four wickets but it was a very inept performance and one we have got to erase from the memory.

“Fortunately it was a friendly and we need to be up and running ready for Sunday’s game.”

Wiltshire’s final warm up friendly is on Sunday, April 12, against Berkshire at North Maidenhead CC when they will attempt to retain the Marlborough Cup which they won last season.

“It is a cup game that we always play against Berkshire, so it is always nice to win it,” said Shardlow, who will be using the game to tinker with his top order.

“I think they have got the lion’s share of wins over us over a number of years, but we are catching up and we have won two or three in the last couple of years.

“We are in a better position and it is always a good springboard for us, if you go into a game against Berkshire and you beat them then it puts you in a good feeling ready for the trophy games that follow behind.

“But it is also still a friendly so there are a few things we still want to try and we’ll try and test something on Sunday.”