THE newly-formed Herefordshire County Cricket Clubs XI slipped to an eight-run defeat against Worcestershire CCC 2nd in their inaugural match at Wyeside.

An impressive bowling and fielding display from the Herefordshire side restricted the visitors to a challenging 172-7 from 50 overs.

Herefordshire's leading bowler was Eastnor's Jabran, who claimed 3-24 from 10 overs, and he was backed up by former Kington leg-spinner Chris Powell (2-41), club-mate Shahid (1-24) and Robbie Symonds (1-35).

Daryl Mitchell hit a polished 47 for the visitors and James Pipe made 22, while six other Worc-estershire batsmen also reached double but they were dismissed when their innings' were beginning to flourish.

Kington's Steve Williams and Brock-hampton's Johnny Walker then gave Herefordshire a solid start with an opening stand of 66.

Walker made 19 and Williams eventually perished for a stylish 47, which contained four boundaries.

Herefordshire's cause, though, was not helped by three run-outs and they collapsed to 95-5.

The home side lost their seventh wicket with the total at 122 before former Kington batsman Henry Langford put them back into the match with an unbeaten 34.

However, with the victory target nearing, Langford found himself stranded at the non-striker's end and the Herefordshire innings dipped from 157-7 to 164 all out in the penultimate over of the match.

The Herefordshire side's next fixture is against Gloucestershire CCC 2nd at Brockhamp-ton on Sunday, June 22.