Wiltshire fall to Cornwall

Wiltshire’s disappointing Minor Counties Championship season continued with an 83-run defeat to Cornwall at Corsham.

Set 395 to win in the fourth innings, the hosts managed a more than respectable 311 thanks to James Golding’s century, but Rob Harrison’s haul of 7-90 ultimately proved crucial.

Cornwall won the toss and batted and were soon in trouble at 31 for four thanks to two wickets for Alex Senneck and one each for Adam Kelly and Golding.

They staged a fine recovery with a partnership of 149 for the fifth wicket between Chris Hunkin (76) and Alex Smeeth (79) and 127 for the seventh between Arthur Pearce (78 not out) and Martin Jenkin (51 not out) as they finished on 331 for six off their 90 overs.

Wiltshire’s reply began steadily with Eddie Abel and Damian Shirazi putting on 28 for the first wicket.

But Shirazi’s dismissal prompted a major collapse in the last 20 minutes of the day when five wickets fell for six runs.

On the second day Abel was out for 27, but Golding (36) and skipper James Hibberd put on 109 for the seventh wicket, with Hibberd completing a fine century off just 93 balls.

He was out just after lunch for 104 as Wiltshire - having saved the follow-on - were bowled out for 204. Harrison took 4-58, Kelvin Snell 3-43 and Tom Sharp 3-44.

With a lead of 127 on first innings, Cornwall batted steadily second time around and had reached 237 for nine at the close of play thanks in no small part to Sharp’s valuable 61.

Wiltshire suffered a further blow when Hibberd dislocated and fractured a finger in the field late in the day.

Cornwall continued batting for three overs on the third day before declaring on 267 for nine as Tom Hankins finished with 4-43 and Pat Turk 2-70.

Wiltshire’s improbable run-chase in a minimum of 96 overs began badly when they lost Shirazi with the score on 15.

There was a good partnership of 110 between Abel (53) and Tom Morton (57) before Abel was out just before lunch.

Wiltshire lost six wickets for 10 runs, including four with the score on 146, as Harrison took three wickets in an over.

At this stage Golding was seven not out and was joined by Turk with only the injured Hibberd to bat.

In the period before tea Golding and Turk put on 133 for the ninth wicket, with Golding reaching a fine century off 120 balls.

He finally fell for 107 and Hibberd came in to enable Turk to complete a maiden half-century for Wiltshire during a last-wicket stand worth 32.

Wiltshire’s next match is against Cheshire at Alderley Edge on July 22-24.