WILTSHIRE will be hoping for a better start to the competitive campaign than their recent pre-season results have suggested.

As Neil Shardlow’s men get their Unicorns Knockout Trophy quest under way against Buckinghamshire on Sunday at Warminster, the county will be looking to bounce back from successive defeats over Easter.

On Sunday, they played Berkshire at North Maidenhead in the Marlborough Cup and the hosts regained the trophy after a 132-run win.

Berkshire won the toss and racked up a score of 304-8, with James Morris top scoring with 82, while James Arney, Joe King, Ashur Morrison and Archie Easton claimed two wickets apiece.

In reply, Wiltshire were never in the hunt and were all out for 172.

Jake Lintott top-scored with 41, while ex-Derbyshire man Wes Durston scored 32 and Billy Cookson was unbeaten at the end with 28.

On Monday, the county faced Dorset at North Perrott and lost by two wickets. After asked to bat ,Wiltshire were dismissed for 195.

Neil Clark led the way with 54, while vice-captain Morrison scored 44. Mark Wolstenholme was the pick of the Dorset bowlers with 3-54. In reply, Wiltshire had their hosts reeling at 37-5 before a sixth-wicket stand of 102 between Luke Webb (58) and Sam Thomson (49) regained the initiative.

Dorset got home by two wickets with 11 balls remaining, scoring 196-8.

Brannon Varley took 4-26 but Wiltshire contributed to the Dorset total with 55 extras, including 36 in wides.

Squad v Buckinghamshire: Ed Young (Potterne) (capt), James Arney (Corsham), Andy Carroll (Westbury), Neil Clark (Potterne), Michael Coles (Westbury), Wes Durston (Oakham), Archie Easton (Devizes), Joe King (Corsham), Jake Lintott (Clevedon), Ashur Morrison (Corsham), Tom Morton (Ealing) (wk), Mikey Reynolds (Trowbridge), Will Wade (South Wilts).