Minor Counties cricket returned to Trowbridge for the first time since the mid-1990s when Wiltshire entertained Cornwall in the first day of their Western Division match.

After just managing to hold on for a draw in their opening championship match of their 2004 campaign, away against Herefordshire, they were looking for better fortunes over the next three days.

Wiltshire won the toss and decided to bat first against Cornwall but stand-in skipper Neil Shardlow must have regretted that decision.

They made a poor start as wickets tumbled at regular intervals.

After only 18 overs Wiltshire stood on 48-4 but then Richard Foley joined Michael Coles.

They put together a partnership of 98 with Coles making a fine 68, which included 11 fours.

Corsham all-rounder Foley, playing his first county game since 1997, struck five fours in his vital knock of 36.

However, it still needed another big partnership to take Wiltshire past the 200 mark.

That came courtesy of Richard Bedbrook and Kevin Nash who put on 77 runs for the ninth wicket.

The former hit 64, an innings which included eight fours, while Nash weighed in with 23.

Wiltshire were finally all out for 251 in the 90th over with Tom Sharp the pick of the Cornwall bowlers with 4-66.

In reply the visitors at stumps had raced to 103-2 off some wayward bowling from only 27 overs.

Former Devizes man Bedbrook followed up his fine innings with the first wicket, while Richard Bates grabbed the other.