SOUTH Wilts trio Tom Morton, Arthur Godsal and Luke Evans helped Wiltshire book their place in the semi-final of the Minor Counties Trophy after they beat Oxfordshire at Aston Rowant by two wickets, writes ROY HONEYBONE.

The home side won the toss and decided to bat first in the 50-over a-side.

After an initial brief period of caution Shabaz Alam (46) and Tom Cosford (58) really opened up and raced to 100 in just 91 balls.

At this stage it looked as though Oxfordshire would post an imposing total, but then along came Jake Lintott (3-37), and he removed both openers and then dismissed Kaufman leg before and then ran out Garrett for good measure.

Joe King (3-44) also took three wickets, Ed Young trapped Gareth Andrew leg before one of eight in the game.

Evans ran out Oxfordshire skipper Cater 23 and when Godsal bowled Russell White in the penultimate over Wiltshire were right back in the game having dismissed Oxfordshire for 229.

The Wiltshire team always felt that the total should be within their grasp, but they would need to bat sensibly and bat out the overs to achieve their goal.

Gareth Andrew (3-32) had other ideas and claimed the wickets of both Morton and Jake Goodwin early on.

However this brought Uzi Qureshi and skipper Ed Young 41, together and they put on 84 runs for the third wicket putting Wiltshire back in the driving seat.

After Young had been dismissed leg before by Joe Thomas, three wickets fell cheaply to Oliver Clarke (3-32), the home side took back the advantage.

Godsal (41) played an excellent innings alongside Qureshi as they pushed the score on to 218 before Godsal was bowled by Andrews.

It had looked as though these two would see Wiltshire home, but now Luke Evans entered the fray with 12 still needed for victory and Oxfordshire needing to take two wickets.

This fascinating game had seen fluctuating fortunes for both sides and now we were entering the final phase with both sides capable of securing the win.

Qureshi was on 99 not out when Evans joined him and he duly achieved a well-crafted, hard fought century as he finished 104 not out which would prove to be a match winner.

Andrew ran in hoping to flatten Evans stumps as he had done with his previous delivery to Godsal.

The ball rose sharply and Evans (5), took the opportunity of helping it on its way to the boundary to secure the victory and create a sea of excited smiling Wiltshire faces.

This books them a place in the semi-final against Berkshire at Finchampstead on August 11.