WILTSHIRE team boss Neil Shardlow rued the first-innings collapse that condemned his side to another Minor Counties Championship Western Division defeat at Corsham.

The home side appeared to have title-chasing Devon under the cosh when a fine first-day bowling performance ended the visitors’ opening innings for jusy 119.

However, Devon were back into bat before the end of day one as Wiltshire succumbed for just 100.

Devon went on to amass 474 in their second innings, leaving Wiltshire to try to hang on for the final day on Tuesday.

Shardlow said: “We did brilliantly to bowl them out for just 119 in the first innings but it was a shame that we fell short of their score because we were always chasing the game after that.

“If we’d been 50 or 60 runs ahead, then it would have been a totally different game but we still performed pretty well and we’re not disappointed with it.

“We had some good performances and the people from Devon were shocked at how far we’ve come on from last year.”

Wiltshire eventually succumbed by 118 runs – despite a defiant final day in which Devon had to wait until after tea to wrap up victory.

The south coast side’s first innings was over in 47 overs as Tahir Afridi took 5-34 in 18 overs, supported by Paul Robbins 2-18 and a wicket each for Steve Warner, Owen Alsop and Tom Bowler.

But Wiltshire were all out for 100 in 37 overs with Ed Kilbee top scoring with 36, Neil Hancock taking 3-22, Scott Barlow 3-25 and Chris Bradley 2-22.

Building on their 71 without loss at the start of their second innings, Devon dominated the second day, openers Rob Holman (44) and James Burke (65) giving them early momentum.

The key partnership came as David Lye (104) and Hancock (84) put on 151 for the fifth wicket.

They were finally all out for 474 after a last-wicket stand of 69 between Barlow (50) and Bradley (19*), Steve Warner taking 5-102 and Afridi 3-124. Wiltshire’s survival bid was in trouble at the end of day two as they closed on 51-3 and wickets went steadily on the final day as they went to 146-6, Henry Langford scoring 41 and skipper Joe Breet 34).

Wicketkeeper Tom Morton, who was awarded his county cap after the match and Alsop then put a Wiltshire record seventh-wicket stand of 171 before Alsop went for 44.

When Morton followed for 167 – his maiden Championship century – it wasn’t long before Wiltshire were dismissed for 375, Trevor Anning taking 3-87, Barlow 3-57, Hancock 2-67 and Bradley 2-69.