TOM Pearce, with a battling 75 and four wickets, did his level best – but even the captain’s gallant efforts weren’t enough to spare South Wilts seconds a 54-run defeat by Premier Division 2 promotion chasing Tichborne Park.

Pearce and Sam Arnold (84) dragged South Wilts from a perilous 27-4 towards a creditable 251-9 after Tichborne’s batsmen had made hay in the sun, cracking 305-8 on a Bemerton shirt front.

Queenslander Justin Reid (38) gave the Park a positive start, but it was Henry Don’s 104, which contained a six and 17 fours, and a fine 92 from Tom Allam, which enabled Tichborne to total a formidable 305-8 (Tom Pearce 4-67).

Any slim prospects South Wilts seconds had of chasing down such a total were destroyed when they lost their top four batsmen for only 27 runs, with Owain Phillips, Tom Cowley, Ben Draper and Rob Pittman quickly confined to spectating duties.

Arnold and Pearce shared a 156-run fifth-wicket stand as South Wilts recovered to reach 251-9 by stumps.