WILTSHIRE’S opening three-day match of the season got off to a disastrous start as they were put through the wringer by Cheshire today.

The county side, who have already qualified for the knockout stages of the Unicorns Knockout Trophy by winning three of four matches in Minor Counties’ one-day competition, were left smarting at the end of the first day’s play after being skittled for just 166 in less than 50 overs.

Cheshire’s Ash Davis was the beneficiary of Wiltshire’s frailty with the bat, helping himself to seven wickets as visiting batsmen were dismissed with regularity at Tattenhall.

Luke De Souza, Mike Reynolds and Ed Young went for just 22 runs – 19 of which were extras – with only number three Ashur Morrison offering up any significant resistance as he hit 63.

Tahir Afridi chipped in with 43 but Jake Lintott (13) was the only other Wiltshire man to make double figures as the visitors collapse was rounded off early in the 48th over.

In reply, hosts Cheshire enjoyed relatively smooth sailing in the early throes of their first innings, with Richard Moore falling to Afridi for 29.

Fellow opener Calum Rowe then chipped in with 37 but Lintott did offer Wiltshire a glimmer of hope as he dismissed both David Hurst and Danny Lamb for ducks before then taking Calum Rowe for 43.

Home captain Lee Dixon made 44 before he became the fifth Cheshire batsman to fall to Lintott, who would go on to finish the day with figures of 6-82 as the hosts closed on 252-9.