Minor Counties Cricket: WILTSHIRE lost a thrilling three-day championship match against Wales Minor Counties at South Wilts on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday by one wicket.

The home side won the toss and Russell Rowe, returning to captain the side on his home ground, chose to bat.

Rowe scored 30 but when he was out the score stood at 62-3.

Then came a fourth wicket stand of 159 between Baqar Rizvi (96) and Michael Coles (111), which took the score to 221. Rizvi fell just short of his ton while Coles completed his maiden century for the county.

Richard Bedbrook scored 38 and Steve Perrin 30 as Wiltshire reached 354 all out.

For Wales Carl Roberts took 6-60 including a hat trick to dismiss the last three batsmen.

In reply Wales had reached 96-1 at the close of the first day. Wiltshire fought back and the score stood at 229-7 when Richard Grant (126 not out) and Adam Harrison (58) put on 140 for the eighth wicket.

Wales were all out for 407 with Dan Cherry (50) and Ryan Watkins (58) the other main contributors. For Wiltshire Richard Bedbrook took 3-87 and Richard Foley 3-64.

Wiltshire started poorly in their second innings and had not cleared the arrears of 53 until Rizvi (55) and Steve Perrin (51) put on 99 for the fifth wicket.

Both were out just before the end of the second day and Wiltshire were all out for 197 early on day three with Kevin Nash scoring 21 and Foley 28.

Wales then had what appeared to be a routine task to score 145 to win in 82 overs.

But with Wiltshire taking wickets regularly the score stood at 131-9 before the last wicket pair of Adam Harrison (26 not out) and Dan Nolan (one not out) saw them to victory.

Wales' top scorer was Adrian Shaw with 36. For Wiltshire Foley took 5-36 off 26.2 overs of off spin including 10 maidens and Rizvi finished with 2-44.

Bridgwater batsman Michael Coles was delighted with his first Wiltshire century in what he felt was a great game to play in.

Coles, 22, 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.

"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.

"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."

Wales earn 24 points for the win while Wiltshire take eight.

Wiltshire's next match is the quarter final of the MCCA Knock Out Cup against Dorset at Dean Park, Bournemouth on Sunday starting at 12noon.

Squad v Dorset: Russell Rowe (South Wilts) (Captain), James Ashford Brown (Devizes), Richard Bates (Chippenham), Richard Bedbrook (Beckenham), Kevin Blackburn (Clifton/Optimists), Chris Budd (Thornbury), Paul Clifford (Corsham), Michael Coles (Bridgwater), Kevin Nash (Bashley), Steve Perrin (Corsham), Baqar Rizvi (Spencer), Neil Shardlow (Corsham) and Toby Sharpe (Corsham).