A MAGNIFICENT 185 from Michael Coles could not prevent battling Wiltshire from slipping to a 44-run defeat in their final Minor Counties Champions Western Division match of the season at Brockhampton yesterday.

Set an unlikely 444 to defeat Herefordshire on the final day of three, Wiltshire recovered from an unpromising 29-3 at one stage to make a good fist of it before running out of wickets late on.

Herefordshire started the final day on 268-1 - already a sizeable lead of 397 - with opener Nitesh Patel and Bradley Wadlan both already having made centuries and got to 325-2 before declaring.

That set Wiltshire their mammoth winning target and Toby Davies, skipper Joe Breet and Tom Morton were all back in the pavilion early.

Opener Ed Kilbee made 46 and number six Ashur Morrison 25 but Wiltshire still looked to be heading to a heavy defeat at 162-5.

However Coles and wicketkeeper Adam Miles launched a tremendous rearguard action, putting on 180 for the sixth wicket.

The innings of Coles, who earlier this season hit an unbeaten 227 against Shropshire - the highest total ever by a Wiltshire batsman in the Minor Counties Championship - came off 163 balls with 17 fours and 10 sixes.

He had also put on 59 runs with Kilbee, then 74 with Morrison and his partnshersip with Miles was a record for Wiltshire for the sixth wicket.

When he was out Wiltshire needed 102 off 23 overs but with only four wickets left.

Miles added 88 off 129 deliveries to take the side to almost within 100 of their target.

However, the loss of Tom Bowler, Tahir Afridi and Jake Roberts in quick succession effectively put paid to their chances, Miles sharing a 33-run partnership with last man Joe King before becoming the final wicket down with the score on 399.

Bradley Wadland took 5-113 for Herefordshire, Wiltshire finishing second bottom of the Western Division table.

REACTION TO WILTSHIRE'S DEFEAT IN THURSDAY'S GAZETTE & HERALD AND FRIDAY'S WILTSHIRE TIMES