WILTSHIRE reached the semi-finals of the MCA Knockout Cup competition yesterday after ambushing Dorset on their own Dean Park track, writes NEVILLE SMITH.

Rain certainly played a part in proceedings and having lost the toss, the hosts found themselves reduced to 47-5 after 12 overs.

With the county track saturated, officials opted to employ the pitch used for Bournemouth's league game the previous day.

Wiltshire's bowlers gained some assistance from it and they had made real inroads when the rain first fell to curtail proceedings.

Leaving the field after 12 overs, the game was then reduced to 30 overs per side and Dorset eventually struggled to just 96 in the 28th over.

Corsham's Toby Sharpe led the way for Wiltshire with 3-24 but the outcricket certainly played a part.

Fellow seamers Kevin Nash, James Hibberd and Michael Coles all weighed in with two wickets apiece, with Forest Green goalkeeper Steve Perrin clutching one of several good catches in the field.

Wiltshire lost Russell Rowe for 23 in the reply, but Chippenham's Richard Bates (33 not out ) and Chris Budd (30) steered the visitors to a nine-wicket victory at 97-1 and a home semi-final on August 15.

They will now host Northumberland winners of a bowl-off against Cambridgeshire yesterday at Westbury.