MICHAEL Coles was delighted to score his first Wiltshire century, but admitted Wales' nerve jangling victory took some of the gloss off his achievement.

The Bridgwater captain had already racked up scores of 90 and 68 for Wiltshire this season so his maiden ton (111) was always a possibility on a good batting track.

But with the threat of rain edging closer on Sunday afternoon, Coles was determined not to be marooned in the 90s.

Batting at number five, Coles had the added responsibility of trying to stabilise a Wiltshire innings that was in the balance at 62-3.

Coles, who is averaging over 50 for his club this summer, said: "I went to the crease with the score on 62-3, but Baqar and I were able to get things going. We repaired the damage and helped get the team to 354.

"It was quite a flat wicket to be fair, but it was a very enjoyable experience to get my first century for Wiltshire. Everything went pretty much according to plan. I was just trying to rebuild our innings and get us up to something respectable and it went really well."

Coles,22, is in his second season with Wiltshire, but came through the academy at Somerset and played for the first class county's cricket board between 2000 and 2002. He has been a mainstay for Wiltshire this year and having seen Rizvi fall just short of his ton, he reached three figures in style.

He said: "I was on 93 and it was looking like it was going to rain. We were down to our last eight or nine overs so I wanted to get my century before we could be forced off. Luckily I hit two shots, which went over the bowler's head for four."

Requiring just 145 for victory, Wales would not have anticipated such a nail biting finish, but Coles, who played his part in a spirited Wiltshire fielding display by catching Welsh teenager Matthew Mason, praised his colleagues' battling qualities.

Having reduced Wales to 131-9, Wiltshire could not quite finish off the job, but Coles believes they can take a lot from the game.

He said: "It was a good game to be involved in, but it was just disappointing to lose. We showed great character to push them so close at the end."