WILTSHIRE finished their season with a crushing defeat by more than an innings at the hands of the Western Division champions Devon.

Manager Brian White was upset to finish the season with such a heavy loss. He said: "This was a disappointing result for us and to end our season on such a heavy defeat was terrible."

"Devon are the best minor counties cricket side around. They have dominated this division for the last ten years."

The three-day Minor Counties Championship at Exmouth started on Sunday. Wiltshire chose to bat first in bad weather conditions but struggled to get a foothold in a match dominated by Devon.

The weather caused Sunday and Monday's play to finish early and Tuesday to start late. White said: "The rain got under the covers and the ground staff did extremely well. If it was not for them we would have been no cricket at all."

The poor weather did not bother Devon who quickly went on the offensive against the Wiltshire batting line up. Wiltshire regretted the decision to bat as they were bowled out for 103.

Baqar Rizvi top scored with just 18 before he was was caught and bowled by Neil Hancock. James Hayward tried to hold on at the end of the innings but he was losing partners. He made 17 not out. The highest partnership of 30 was for the last wicket between Hayward and Kevin Nash. That was until Nash was caught by Lye off the bowling of Proctor. For Devon Hancock took 4-47 and Trevor Anning bowled an impressive 4-32.

Wiltshire gained an early success when Hayward caught Matthew Hunt for a duck but then Arul Suppiah hit 108 and Bob Dawson 81. This made a second wicket stand of 154 and Devon were able to reach 330 for 7. Suppiah was caught by Coles and Dawson caught by Hayward, both from the bowling of Nash.

All rounder Neil Hancock put on a respectable 66 and walked off unbeaten as Devon declared. Kevin Nash took 3-102, James Hibberd 2-45 and James Hayward 2-69. Rain caused half of the third day to be lost but there was still enough time for Devon to bowl Wiltshire out for 113 in 57 overs on a pitch which was giving the bowlers considerable help. Hancock caught opener batsman Ollie Smith for a duck in an innings where the top scorer was Michael Coles on just 39. Jon Chandler made 21 but was bowled out by Hancock.

The last three tail-enders all went for a duck as the Devon bowlers showed no mercy. Ian Bishop took 4 for 6 to finish the innings with Neil Hancock taking 2 for 51 and Andy Procter 3 for 30.

White said: "Once we were out for a low score in our first innings we lost control of the match."

Wiltshire finished fifth in the Western Division this year which White says was expected. He said: "Last year we finished fourth so fifth is about right.''