HEREFORDSHIRE pulled off one of their more remarkable victories when they started their MCCA Trophy campaign with a two-wicket win over Northumberland at Colwall last Sunday.

Chasing the visitors all out score of 252, the home county seemed to be heading for a heavy defeat when they lost their seventh wicket at 113.

But Kington all-rounder Dave Exall and debutant Kez Ahmed had different ideas as they embarked upon a stand of 128 for the eighth wicket at better than seven runs an over.

After Ahmed was run out for 54 with nine balls remaining and 12 runs still required, Exall was more than equal to the task, striking sixes off each of the first two balls of the final over from medium-pacer Ian Pattison.

Exall finished with an unbeaten 80, including 10 fours and three sixes, from 61 balls.

Earlier, only the returning Ismail Dawood (54) and Richard Hall (27) got past three as Herefordshire made a poor reply to their response.

Northumberland's innings had closed in the final over of their allotted 50 when Tom Glover (3-42) had Lee Crozier caught by skipper Chris Boroughs.

The visitors had themselves made a patch start, losing their first three wickets for just 28 and a fourth at 62 before a middle-order rally.

Allan Worthy (78) added 69 for the fifth wicket with Marc Symington (57) who batted on to share in an 81-run sixth-wicket stand with Stephen Humble (37).

The Herefordshire bowling was steady throughout with Ahmed (2-48) completing a useful all-round display and Peter Scott (2-50) making his mark on his county debut.

Boroughs (1-44), Richard Parker (1-48) and Hall (1-8) also picked up a wicket apiece while Dawood, who spent last season playing for Yorkshire, picked up a couple of victims behind the stumps.