WILTSHIRE faced an uphill battle to avoid a first Unicorns Championship Western Division defeat as Cheshire's batsmen dominated on day two at South Wilts today.

The leaders were 36-1 in their second innings, chasing an unlikely further 398 to snatch victory but, more realistically, needed to bat out the final day on Wednesday to secure their second successive championship draw.

Beginning the second day at 147-8, replying to Cheshire's opening 227 all out, the hosts added only a further 26 runs, Tahir Afridi ending unbeaten on 32, as they were dismissed for 174.

Already holding a lead of more than 50, Cheshire set about amassing a potentially match-winning total.

Opener C Rowe scored an unbeaten 155, sharing a parnership of 104 with feollow opener W Gladwin (40), then 160 with first-innings centurion R Moore (76) and a further stand of 81 with L Dixon.

Cheshire eventually declared on 381-4, Afridi and Joe King with two wickets each, setting Wiltshire their mammoth target.

By the close, Wiltshire had reached 36-1, opener Henry Langford the man to fall.

NEWS FROM THE FINAL DAY OF WILTSHIRE'S MATCH AT GAZETTEANDHERALD.CO.UK/SPORT AND WILTSHIRETIMES.CO.UK/SPORT AND REACTION & PICTURES IN THIS WEEK'S GAZETTE & HERALD AND WILTSHIRE TIMES