COUNTY CRICKET: WILTSHIRE opened their 2002 campaign in the 38 County Cup with an exciting win over the Somerset Cricket Board at Chippenham on Sunday.

Put in to bat, Somerset started slowly against accurate bowling by the Wiltshire opening bowlers, Craig Gibbens and Daniel Chard, and after 25 of their 50 overs they were 61 for two with Somerset captain Kevin Parsons, the former Somerset first team player having made 33.

A fifth wicket stand of 103 between Michael Coles (59) and Gareth Andrew (36) took the score to 173 off 45 overs but the last five overs saw only 12 runs scored for the loss of five wickets against the bowling of Paul Marsh (4-22) and Daniel Chard (2-20).

Somerset Board finished at 185-9 off the 50 overs.

Wiltshire also started slowly, losing both South Wilts batsman Russell Rowe for six and Corsham all-rounderPaul Marsh run out for four with the score at only 39 and when Kevin Blackburn, with a solid 34, was out the total had reached 61 in the 24th over.

This led to a match winning partnership of 92 between Chris Budd (63) and former Trowbridge Town footballer James Taylor (33) and when Taylor was out 33 runs were needed off five overs. Accurate Somerset bowling meant that when Budd was out 23 were needed off 14 balls.

Chippenham all-rounder Richard Bates and James Hibberd rose to the occasion and with 10 off the penultimate over, 11 were needed off the last over.

Hibberd hit the first ball for four and with three needed off two balls he again found the boundary to see Wiltshire home with one ball remaining. Wiltshire's score was 187 for five.

On Thursday Wiltshire took on Hampshire 2nd XI at the Rose Bowl in Southampton for their final warm-up match.

In a match reduced to 38 overs a side because of the weather, Hampshire scored 189 for nine, James Hibberd taking 3-26 with Daniel Chard 2-44.

Wiltshire's reply had reached 122 for three off 22.3 overs when rain brought an end to the match. For Wiltshire there was a second wicket stand of 119 between Rob Wade (47) and Paul Marsh (53).