TOM Morton continued his run-filled season with a blistering century to lead South Wilts to victory in the Jack Wilcox Trophy. 

It was the first time in the six years since the competition was reformatted into Twenty20 style that a century has been hit and although it effectively ended the match as a contest, it was a sensational display of batting. 

The day’s festivities at Corsham began with the news that Warminster had withdrawn at just a few hours’ notice. 

There seems little doubt that the Wiltshire Cricket Board will deal firmly with the club, particularly as this is not the first time they have done this. 

The event, which is the senior cup competition for Wiltshire cricket, was therefore subject to a last minute reformatting with the three teams - Chippenham, Corsham and South Wilts playing in a round-robin league format. 

After Corsham had beaten Chippenham comfortably in the first encounter, South Wilts played Chippenham and they were led to a fairly straight forward six wicket-win by a superb all round performance from Rob Pittman. 

With Tom Morton, 38, and Shaun Dixon, 3-13, also featuring prominently, Pittman hit an unbeaten 56 to go with two wickets, 2-16, to see South Wilts home. 

The final fixture between old rivals South Wilts and Corsham effectively therefore became a final and Tom Morton, captaining for the day in place of the injured James Hayward, ensured South Wilts brought the trophy home. 

South Wilts blazed boundaries from the start of the contest and it was Morton in particular who put the Corsham bowlers to the sword. 

Completing his third century for the club in eight days, Morton faced just 64 balls, hitting nine fours and seven sixes. 

He went to his century with successive huge sixes before being bowled off the penultimate ball of the innings for a brilliant 105.

Rob Pittman again contributed well, sharing a crucial 86-run third wicket partnership with Morton, as he faced 30 balls for his 47 which included five fours and a six. 

A total of 197-7 was not beyond possibility for the hosts, but they would need a significant innings from skipper Tom Hankins to make it. However, when Warren Humphries bowled him in the first over the match was effectively over. 

South Wilts’ bowlers and fielders rose to the occasion and put on a superb display as Corsham struggled to gain any momentum at all. 

Their innings petered out, much to the disappointment of the home crowd, and they were eventually all out for 92 to leave South Wilts winners by 105 runs. 

Spinners Shaun Dixon, Charlie King and seamer Humphries all picked up two wickets in a very professional display.

Photos: Sam Pittman