MINOR COUNTIES Herefordshire edge past Wiltshire
- Details
- Created on Tuesday, 20 August 2019 08:16
- Last Updated on Wednesday, 21 August 2019 11:27
- Published on Tuesday, 20 August 2019 08:16
- Written by PAUL BOLTON Minor Counties cricket correspondent
Herefordshire held their nerve to snatch a dramatic one wicket victory over Wiltshire in a tense Minor Counties Championship Western Division match at Brockhampton.
A match of fluctuating fortunes was decided when Dan Conway scampered a single off off-spinner Joe King to take Herefordshire to a target of 207.
Herefordshire appeared to be easing to victory when skipper Matt Pardoe, the former Worcestershire left-hander, and Kieran Smith put on 71 for the first wicket but King and slow left-armer Jake Lintott chipped away.
The spinners shared nine wickets between them, with King taking five for 55, but they could not dislodge the last wicket pair of Conway and Ian Bullock who scrambled the last 13 runs needed for victory.
Earlier Wiltshire had stretched their second innings to 208 with useful middle order contributions from Lintott (45) and captain Ed Young (44). In the end the first innings half century – the only one in the match – from Herefordshire number ten Tom Hage proved pivotal.
Spin King Wiltshire's Joe King in full flight image Roy Honeybone
Defending champions Berkshire were frustrated by rain, which delayed play until late afternoon, then stubborn resistance from Cornwall at St Austell.
Seamer Tom Nugent’s five wicket haul eventually dislodged Cornwall for 186 with Christian Purchase top-scoring with 44.
Berkshire slipped to 24 for three at the start of their second innings but recovered to 51 for three – a lead of 91.
Play on the final day at Wheal Eliza is scheduled for a 1030 start today.
Somerset all-rounder Peter Trego made his second century in as many Championship matches as Devon racked up 375 for four against Oxfordshire at Sidmouth.
Trego made his first century in the opening Championship match of the season against Wales in June but has since been unavailable because of his white ball commitments with Somerset.
But he again made his presence felt by making 103 from 126 balls while his former Somerset team-mate Alex Barrow made 141.
Trego and Barrow shared a third wicket partnership of 185 but Oxfordshire, who trailed by 164 on first innings, were only one run behind with seven wickets in hand at the close thanks to Harry Smith’s gutsy 75.
Wales all-rounder Andy Gorvin had a day to remember against Dorset at North Perrott.
The former Hampshire Academy player made a maiden half century in only his second Championship match and followed up by taking five for 17 in 15 overs - his first five wicket haul - as Dorset slipped to 93 for five in their second innings.
Thanks to Gorvin and half centuries from Oskar Kolk and 15-year-old debutant Ben Kellaway, Wales restricted Dorset’s first innings lead to 92 and an intriguing final day is in prospect.
Shropshire batsman Xavier Clarke made two half centuries in the day but Cheshire still closed in on victory at Nantwich.
Clarke, the younger brother of Nottinghamshire batsman Joe, made 61 - his maiden Championship half century - in the first innings and followed up with 52 when Shropshire followed on.
Wicketkeeper Matt Swift also impressed with a bustling 92 not out in only his second match but Shropshire still trailed by 205 on first innings.
Off-spinner Simon Normanton took four first innings wickets for Cheshire and added two more in the second with seamer Rick Moore taking three to leave Shropshire floundering on 121 for six, still 84 in arrears.
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