WILTSHIRE gave star-studded Kent a real scare at South Wilts on Tuesday as they came within 10 runs of victory to prove minor counties should have a place in the future of the C and G Trophy.

Following the decision to end minor counties' involvement in the competition from next season, Wiltshire looked determined to prove a point and by the end were agonisingly close to a memorable first-round victory in Salisbury.

Having dismissed the visitors for 160 inside 47 overs, Wiltshire were bowled out for 151 with five balls remaining as Kent were made to sweat for their passage into the next round.

A healthy crowd turned out to see how Wiltshire would compete with an opposition side full of household names, but by the end were left asking who were the first-class team.

One of the biggest crowd pullers was England batsman Robert Key, but the Kent opener was sent back to the pavilion without troubling the scorers after Corsham wicketkeeper Neil Shardlow produced a brilliant diving catch down the leg side off the bowling of Richard Bedbrook.

The good start soon became a dream one as Key's international team-mate, wicketkeeper Geraint Jones, was caught by Richard Bates off the bowling of Kevin Nash to leave the visitors in trouble on 32-2.

South African Martin van Jaarsveld (20) and Matthew Walker (29) added a further 20 before the former was bowled lbw by James Hibberd to spark thoughts of an upset.

Hibberd repeated his feat a few overs later to dismiss Kent captain David Fulton (7) and just a few balls later Bedbrook caught Darren Stevens (1) off Michael Coles' bowling to leave Kent teetering on 72-5.

Walker and top scorer Michael Carberry (41) produced a 42-run partnership to give their side a foothold in the match before James Golding, making his debut for Wiltshire, forced Walker to top-edge into Shardlow's gloves.

The former Kent all-rounder picked up his second wicket with the dismissal of Simon Cook (12) to leave the favourites 147-7 off 43 overs.

Man-of-the-match Kevin Nash returned to the attack late on with huge effect as he whittled through the visitors' tail to finish with figures of 4-46 and set his side a gettable target of 161 to win.

Hibberd picked up 2-23, Coles 1-19, Bedbrook 1-23 and Golding 2-46, in a superb team fielding performance.

In reply, Wiltshire's hopes of an upset were dealt an early blow when they lost Australian Chris Rogers (3) and Chris Budd (0) with only nine of the board, courtesy of Cook.

Captain Russell Rowe (29) and Coles (32) gradually brought the hosts back into the game as their 52-run partnership increased the atmosphere of expectancy around the ground.

But after Rowe was stumped by Jones off the bowling of Ferley and Coles was caught by Key off another Cook delivery, Wiltshire's innings began to unravel.

Baqar Rizvi (12), Golding (10), Hibberd (1) and Bates (8) quickly followed to the pavilion as Wiltshire were reduced to 113-8.

But then Bedbrook came to the crease and hit a well-paced 24 not out in 35 balls but he ran out of time and partners as Shardlow (4) was dismissed and then Nash (8) was run out with just five balls remaining.

Cook finished with 4-22 from 9.1 overs and Walker 2-17 from five overs to help Kent creep through and ensure Wiltshire's involvement in the C and G Trophy was ended forever.