WILTSHIRE slipped to a 28-run defeat to Staffordshire in the three-day final of the Unicorns County Championship at South Wilts.

Staffordshire batted steadily to score 227 in their first innings with Peter Wilshaw top scoring with 52, assisted by Kadeer Ali (39) and Tim Maxfield (32).

For Wiltshire, the spinners Ed Young (6 for 72) and Joe King (2 for 34) were the most successful bowlers. Wiltshire started well after the early loss of Jayden Levitt, with Ed Kilbee (61) and Uzi Qureshi (90) putting on 94 for the second wicket. At close, they had reached 155 for three wickets.

On the second day, Staffordshire fought back as they bowled South Wilts out for 231 and a lead of only four, and by the close of play had reached 242 for seven wickets. (Matthew Parkinson took 3 for 62).

Wilshaw scored a superb 107 and helped by M Hill put on 112 for the fifth wicket after they had been reduced to 41 for four wickets. The third day saw Wilts take the final three wickets for only a further 12 runs as Staffordshire were all out for 254, leaving Wilts the best part of two days to score 251 to win. Tahir Afridi took five for 44 off 24 overs and Jake Roberts three for 44 off 19 overs.

Wilts again lost an early wicket but Kilbee (20) and Qureshi (30) put on 46 for the second wicket whereupon Greg Willott ripped out the middle order and reduced Wilts to 57 for five wickets.

Michael Coles was joined by Ashur Morrison (38) and they put on 52 for the sixth wicket and then Coles and Afridi (25) put on 57 for the eighth wicket.

Coles was now playing a lone hand and he was finally last out for 87 with the score on 222 to give Staffordshire the Unicorns County Championship.