PUT into bat on a slow wicket, Wiltshire's 50+ team struggled against the steady bowling of Somerset.

Keith Redding, 22, and Ron Smith, 32, batted effectively, but their dismissals slowed the momentum and they had reached only 120-5 off 40 overs before M. Dean created the highlight of the innings with 35 runs from 39 balls.

The attempted spurt for the last five overs only brought 25 runs for the loss of five wickets with B. Brogden, 3-28, turning in the best figures.

In reply, Wiltshire had the match in their grasp with Somerset reeling at 30-5 after 17 overs after Des Jeffery took 3-14, and Peter Mathias, 2-16.

However a stand of 114 between T. Whittingham, 63, and B. Brogden, 43, enable Somerset to comfortably reach the target of 146 with three wickets and three overs to spare.