BASHLEY captain Richard Morris hailed the resolve of champions South Wilts after they had snaffled a last-ditch victory at the BCG with just one ball to spare.

Morris’s men set a testing target of 252 for eight thanks largely to the skipper’s impressive knock of 84 and a 114-run fourth-wicket partnership with opener Neil Thurgood (66).

Simon Watkins also racked up an unbeaten 29, but South Wilts rallied to continue their fine form in the timed format.

Inspired by Tom Morton’s 122, the visitors recovered from a rocky start having slipped to 26 for two.

There was still hope for Bash when James Hayward and James Hibberd both went for ducks, but Joe Cranch (37) and Robert Franklin (23*) swung the pendulum back in the title holders’ favour as they bludgeoned their way to 256 for seven after tea.

Morris conceded his charges had been trumped by the superior side but said his team needed to be savvier to compete with the league’s leading lights.

The Bash skipper told the Daily Echo: “It was a good game of cricket and it looked like it was meandering towards a draw with neither team grabbing it by the scruff of the neck, but they put their foot on the gas and deserved their win in the end.

“We played well before tea but struggled to stay in control after that and, sometimes, you have to hold up your hands and admit they were the better side.

“Tom Morton was excellent and made the difference but they are a well-knit group of players who seem to find quality from somewhere when they need to.

“They are the most complete side we have come up against so far.

“They have good seamers, good spinners and strength in depth throughout the batting order, and I would be very surprised if they didn’t finish in the top two.

“We have still got some slight inconsistencies to deal with.

“We’re a really good side when things are going well but we need to think on our feet a little bit, be more flexible and come up with a plan B when things get tricky.”