WILTSHIRE team manager Neil Shardlow conceded that his side were always playing catch-up after their Championship campaign started with a crushing eight-wicket defeat at Cheshire this week.

The visitors were skittled out for 166 in less than 50 overs in their first innings at Tattenhall on Sunday, going on to lose the match inside two days.

“It was a difficult start to the three-day season and I don’t think we hit our straps on the first day,” said Shardlow.

“We were trying to gear ourselves up for the change from one-day cricket to three-day cricket and we fell a little way short on the first day.

“Losing seven or eight wickets in the first session, you are always going to struggle to come back from that. If you only score 166, it’s difficult to play catch-up.”

Cheshire bowler Ashley Davis ripped through the Wiltshire batting line-up on the first morning, taking 7-83 as the visitors offered little resistance.

Only Ashur Morrison (63) and Tahir Afridi (43) came away with any credit but by the time Cheshire had batted, their 303 all out gave them a first innings lead of 137.

Lee Dixon top scored with 44 and although Jake Lintott (6-100) did his best to restrict the hosts and at one stage had Cheshire at 211-8, several lusty blows from the tail proved costly for Wiltshire.

Shardlow added: “Having won the toss, we thought it was a decent wicket. It did seam around a little bit but in all fairness, Ashley Davis bowled exceptionally well and ripped the heart out of our batting. We were unable to recover.

“We always say you don’t judge what the wicket is like until both sides have batted. The guys fought back and we had them five down when they were around our total and eight down when they were 30 in front.

“The killer for us was the last wicket, who put on quite a few runs to go 130-odd in front – that was a bit too much.”

Once again, Wiltshire’s charge in the second innings was led by Morrison (73) and Afridi (53) but their total of 233 meant Cheshire needed just 97 to claim victory. Davis remained a thorn in the visitors’ side, taking 4-36.

The home side made light work of their second innings run chase on Monday afternoon and Wiltshire took just two wickets as Cheshire eased over the winning line.

Shardlow said: “We batted well in the second innings, much better than we had in the first innings, but we were too far behind the game.

“All in all, we are a little bit disappointed to lose our first game but Cheshire are a decent side and the Ashley Davies bowled exceedingly well right the way through.”