SOUTH Wilts lost a rain-affected game to Bourne-mouth on Saturday, with a reduced target proving crucial. They batted first and got 207-9 off 21 overs, leaving Bournemouth to chase 120 off 29 overs.

South Wilts captain Rob Wade said: "It's difficult to get a system that works for rain affected games, but the one we have got clearly doesn't. Their target was easy, particularly as we still had to keep the field restrictions."

Opening batsman Paul Draper hit 84, with Jason Laney, 34, the next main contributor for the home side.

Kidner was Bourne-mouth's top bowler with 5-42, before they cruised home off 20.4 overs with 121-2 - largely thanks to West Australian player Adam Voges' majestic 57.

There was further disappointment when a weakened South Wilts line up crashed out at the second hurdle of the National Knockout Cup, losing to Corsham.

The Salisbury side made 202-8 (Tim Lamb 52, Wade 39, Clifford 3-34, Gibbens 3-24), and were looking good when Corsham were left needing an unlikely 37 off three overs with just three wickets left.

However, ex-Bourne-mouth and Dorset player Toby Sharpe hit 21 not out and Neil Shardlow, while Wiltshire wicketkeeper, was unbeaten on 58, dispatching the penultimate ball for six to see them through to the next round.

Young Lysander Wolf, 15, made his South Wilts debut (6-1-27-0) and Adie Holewell (9-1-23-3) was the pick of the bowlers.

The seconds played away to Winchester, who included Sussex's Billy Taylor in a strong line-up.

South Wilts crumbled to 40-7 but the tail launched a spirited comeback. Matt Holmes hit 25, before a last wicket partnership of 63 between Wolf, 38 not out, and Ian Adams, 25 not out, took them to 151-9.

Unfortunately the rain rule meant Winchester only required 103 off 34 overs, but excellent bowling and fielding led to the Hampshire club needing 18 off three overs with four wickets left.

They scraped home in the last over, but it was a morale-boosting performance with Holewell, 2-28 from 12 overs, and Holmes, 3-10 from four overs, the top bowlers.

South Wilts thirds registered 168-9 (Matt Newman 32, Gary Button 29, Eddie Abel 28) to beat Purbrook seconds who were skittled out for 150 (Anthony Jeffrey 4-40, Mark Penny 2-18).

The club's fourths suffered a similar fate to the first team after running up 144 (Andy Jackson 43, Dave Holt 33). However they lost to Sutton Scotney 90-5 who had been set a rain reduced target.

First team for match at home to Calmore on Satur-day: Wade, Draper, Rowe, Laney, Caines, Lamb, Wood-house, Chandler, A. Holewell, Seeary, Steedon.