WILTSHIRE team boss Neil Shardlow saluted his players for responding to his dressing room dressing-down to grab a dramatic Unicorns Championships Western Division draw in Cornwall on Tuesday.

In a tense finish, Cornwall failed with an appeal for a slip catch against Corsham’s Ashur Morrison off the final ball and also a run out as the visitors earned a share of the spoils in Truro.

Morrison’s unbeaten 85, following a knock of 105 from Ed Young and Ed Kilbee’s 76, had given Wiltshire an unlikely shot at victory. Shardlow’s side had been set 352 to win from just two sessions on the final day after a first-innings batting collapse had handed Cornwall the initiative.

The Wiltshire boss admitted he read the riot act to his side for what he felt was an unacceptable batting performance first time out, but was happy to shower them with praise after they had dug themselves out of trouble.

“I went in and gave the guys a bit of a hard time after our first innings,’ admitted Shardlow.

“We had bowled very well to get them out for under 250 in the first innings but a lot of players didn’t apply themselves and take responsibility when we batted.

“We had the opportunity to take control of the game but instead we were chasing the game.

“To chase down 352 (in the second innings) was a big ask but we got really close and, with four balls to do, we still had a chance.

“To play like we did and bat as well as we did in the second innings was a great testament to them.

“I was proud of them for bouncing back in the way that they did after the first innings and I said that to them afterwards.’’ Wiltshire, who are currently mid-table after a win, draw and defeat, are next in Unicorns Championship action against Wales at Pontarddulais from next Sunday (July 19-21).