WILTSHIRE opened their 2002 campaign in the 38 County Cup with an exciting win in the final over against Somerset Cricket Board at Chippenham.
Put in to bat, Somerset started slowly, and after 25 overs were 61-2 with captain Kevin Parsons 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.
Paul Marsh (4-22) and Daniel Chard (2-20) ensured Somerset finished at 185-9 off their 50 overs.
Wiltshire also began in hesitant fashion, losing both Russell Rowe for six and Paul Marsh with the score at only 39.
Kevin Blackburn hit a solid 34 to take Wiltshire to 61 in the 24th over.
A match-winning partnership ensued, with Chris Budd (63) and James Taylor (33) making a 96-run stand.
The subsequent removal of Taylor left Wiltshire needing 33 from five overs. The wicket of Budd followed leaving Wilts with a target of 23 from 14 balls.
But Chippenham's Richard Bates and James Hibberd rose to the occasion with ten off the penultimate over. Hibberd then hit the boundary twice in the last over to take Wiltshire to 187-5, and secure a dramatic win.
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