RECORDS tumbled as Wiltshire made a successful start to their Minor Counties championship campaign with an emphatic victory over Wales at Pontypridd.
Their innings and four run success over the Principality gave Wiltshire 24 points, the first time they have gained a maximum haul since three-day cricket was introduced.
And the stand of 128 between Richard Illingworth and Kevin Nash was a new Wiltshire record for the eighth wicket.
It was a dream start for Russell Rowe in his first game as Wiltshire's official captain.
His 128 provided the backbone of Wiltshire's massive first innings score of 434 for seven declared.
He shared a first wicket partnership of 49 with club-mate Tom Caines to give Wiltshire a solid start and dominated a second wicket partnership of 115 with Chippenham all-rounder Richard Bates, whose contribution was just 30.
Former Chippenham all-rounder Baqar Rizvi made just 23, but in the process put one of Wales best players, Owen Dawkins, out of the game.
Dawkins floated up a leg break to Rizvi, who smashed it straight back down the pitch. Dawkins was unable to get out of the way and the ball broke his wrist.
Former England spinner Illingworth then took centre stage, marking his championship debut for Wiltshire with an unbeaten 88 to help his new county to maximum batting points.
Wiltshire made quick inroads into Wales first innings, with Michael Coles and Daniel Chard making the early breakthrough before Illingworth took over. On a slow, unresponsive track, Illingworth found just enough turn to keep the batsmen honest and finished with the remarkable figures of four for 17 from 17 overs, nine of them maidens.
Bowled out for just 130 and forced to follow on 304 runs behind, Wales batted much better in their second knock and made Wiltshire work much harder for their wickets.
On the final day Wiltshire managed to take just one wicket between the start and an hour after lunch and Wales looked capable of holding out for an unlikely draw.
But the innings was transformed as Rowe took the new ball after 100 overs and the last seven wickets fell for 57 runs as Wiltshire ran out winners by an innings and four runs.
Illingworth again took the bowling honours with figures of four for 71 from 22 overs.
Wiltshire match manager Brian White said: "Having Illingworth in the side gives us a bowler who can exert some control over the batsmen and his first innings figures were remarkable.
Wiltshire's thoughts now turn to the Minor Counties Knockout Cup as they entertain Buckinghamshire in the first round at Chippenham on Sunday.
Illingworth is unavailable and his place goes to former Devizes seamer Richard Bedbrook, who now plays for Beckenham.
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