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Australian tests Wiltshire

Wiltshire survived an Australian onslaught to secure a NatWest Trophy first-round victory over the Northamptonshire Board XI at Northampton.

Jeff Cook, playing for the first-class county's recreational XI while he completes the mandatory seven-year residency to qualify as English, hit a spectacular 130 off 91 balls.

The Sydney-born left-hander, 27, who can play county cricket next year, struck seven sixes, all off slow left-armer Richard Bates, and also struck 11 fours. Cook's partnership with county colt Rick Falkner (35no) was worth 105 in 13 overs and lifted his side to 282 for five.

But Roger Sillence's 82 fortified Wiltshire's chase from 140 for five and Paul Clifford (34no) and Andrew Collins (24no) scored the last 53 runs off only 28 balls to see their side through by two wickets with eight balls in hand.