WILTSHIRE completed a comprehensive victory over Berkshire by 283 runs shortly after lunch on the third day of their Minor Counties Championship match at Corsham yesterday.

After winning the toss in perfect batting conditions on Sunday, Wiltshire made the most of the opportunity scoring 362 for seven off their 90 overs. An opening stand of 61 between Eddie Abel (57) and Peter Dennett (22) started it off.

Tom Hankins (15) and Michael Coles (32) continued the good work but with the score at 188 for five came the decisive partnership of the match when James Golding (106) and Tom Morton (74) put on 136 for the sixth wicket ensuring that Wiltshire achieved maximum batting points. It was Golding's second century of the season.

Berkshire had 28 overs to bat on the first day and at the close had slumped to 63 for five, with three wickets for Alex Senneck and two for Pat Turk. On the second day after a slight Berkshire recovery, James Hibberd was brought into the attack and Berkshire collapsed from 120 for five to 148 all out, with Wiltshire vice-captain Hibberd taking four for nine.

Wiltshire decided not to enforce the follow-on despite a lead of 214 and an opening stand of 124 between Peter Dennett (74) and Eddie Abel (123) put the match beyond Berkshire's reach. Abel and Michael Coles put on 120 for the third wicket before Wiltshire declared on 278 for three, setting Berkshire an improbable 493 to win in a minimum of 120 overs.

It was a second century of the season for 18-year-old Abel. After Senneck had bowled James Morris for a duck, Berkshire progressed to 56 for one before Bjorn Mordt was well caught on the boundary by Dennett off leg spinner Pat Turk and Hibberd struck three times in two overs to reduce the visitors to 59 for five at the close.

Yesterday Berkshire resisted until the first over after lunch when they were all out for 209. Senneck took two for 25, Hibberd three for 39, Turk two for 34 and Golding three for 29.

Points: Wiltshire 24, Berkshire 3.