WILTSHIRE’S Ashur Morrison admitted the county side didn’t do themselves justice as their foray into the inaugural Unicorns T20 competition ended with a disappointing 78-run defeat at Devon.

Wiltshire struggled to assert themselves with bat and ball against the host county at Exmouth CC on Sunday and were knocked out in their opening Group Three match, with their conquerors going on to beat Cornwall in the final and booking a place at finals day against four other regional winners on July 12.

“We didn’t really do that well at all,” said Morrison.

“They got to 200 and we were all out for 120-odd, so we were quite far off. It’s a new thing for us and I think that we’ll take it a lot more seriously next year.”

Wiltshire put their hosts in but opener Robert Woodman anchored the Devon innings with 97 off 52 balls while Alexander Allen made 35.

Ed Young took two wickets but Liam Lewis (22) and Matthew Thompson (22) helped Devon to 207-5.

The hosts’ Zac Bess accounted for Wiltshire openers Steve Bullen and Ed Kibble for just eight runs and Matt Golding then turned chief antagonist with figures of 3-28.

Tail-ender Andy Carroll top-scored for Wiltshire with an unbeaten 37 but they were dismissed for 129.

The county side now turn their attentions to the three-day game this weekend, with the Minor Counties Championship Western Division clash against Dorset getting under way in Bournemouth on Sunday.

Neil Shardlow’s side enjoyed a memorable campaign as they came within a whisker of lifting the national title for the first time in over a decade.

As the reigning Western Division champions, Morrison concedes that he and his teammates will be there to be shot at this term.

“I guess it might be like that,'' he added. "We’ve got to try and defend the title but that’s going to be really hard. We’ll have to just take each game as it comes.''