HEREFORDSHIRE achieved their long-awaited first Minor Counties Championship win of the season on Monday with a conclusive seven-wicket success against Wales at Kingsland.

The victory, Herefordshire's first since they beat Wiltshire at Corsham in June 2003, was completed with a day of the scheduled three still remaining thanks, in particular, to two fine individual performances.

Mohammad Ali, the Brockhampton and former Derbyshire all-rounder, had a debut to remember, picking up 10 wickets in the match, including a second innings haul of 6-68.

And skipper Chris Boroughs also played a leading role with his unbeaten 115 in the first innings his eighth century for the county, equalling the record held by Harshad Patel.

When Boroughs scored his first run in the second innings, he also passed the landmark of 3,000 runs in Minor Counties competition for Herefordshire. Only Patel has previously passed this figure.

Ali (4-59), Andy Sutton (3-56) and Gulsheraz Ahmed (2-26) all bowled well as Wales, who won the toss and chose to bat, were bowled out for 188 in their first innings.

Herefordshire, with Boroughs in fine form, were within three of that total by the close of the first day and went on to gain a first innings lead of 96 with Ahmed (52) and Henry Langford (36) lending Boroughs useful support.

Tom Brierley and David Exall also chipped in with 21 apiece.

For Wales, Carl Roberts' innings figures of 7-102 were the best by a Wales bowler against Herefordshire and the best innings figures recorded at Mortimer Park.

Few of the Wales batsmen were able to make much headway in their second innings against the bowling of Ali, with Sutton (2-58) and Ahmed (2-8) again providing the back-up as the visitors were all out for 183.

Only Wales skipper Richard Grant (38) passed 30 but Roberts carried on his own fine personal match by notching an undefeated 28.

Ahmed (28) and Boroughs (20 not out) then led Herefordshire to a conclusive success in just 27.1 overs of their second innings.

Wales 188 (B Wright 71, R Watkins 31. M Ali 4-59, A Sutton 3-56, G Ahmed 2-26, R Parker 1-27) and 183 (R Grant 38, C Roberts 28 no, M Beacham 28. M Ali 6-68, G Ahmed 2-8, A Sutton 2-59) Herefordshire 284 (C Boroughs 115 no, G Ahmed 52, H Langford 36, T Brierley 21, D Exall 21. C Roberts 7-102) and 88-3 (G Ahmed 28, C Boroughs 20 no)