HEREFORDSHIRE wound up their season in thrilling style with a 44-run Minor Counties Championship win over Wiltshire at Brockhampton.

The victory sees the county side finish in a creditable sixth position in the Western Division table, but it had been in doubt during the final afternoon despite a massive 443-run target for the visitors.

All was looking good for Herefordshire when Wiltshire slipped to 140-5.

But then Michael Coles, who blasted 17 fours and 10 sixes in his 186, was joined in a 180-run stand for the sixth wicket by wicket-keeper Adam Miles which raised the visitors’ hopes of an incredible win.

However, Coles was caught by skipper Dave Exall off Will Barrett (3-98) and the Brockhampton seamer and his fellow left-armer, spinner Brad Wadlan (5-113), rounded up the final wickets to dismiss Wiltshire for 399. The target was set thanks to a big second-wicket stand of 248 by Nitesh Patel and Wadlan, who both made their first Championship centuries for the county.

Patel compiled an unbeaten 137, studded with 18 fours and two sixes, while Wadlan, who hit a MCCA Knockout Trophy earlier in what has been an impressive season for the 24-year-old, was finally dismissed for 119, with 15 fours and two sixes.

Earlier in the match, Herefordshire had won the toss and put together an impressive 397.

Ben Stebbings (42) and Patel (53) gave the innings a good start with an opening stand of 88 before Wadlan (61), skipper Dave Exall (83) and Danny Cox (80 not out) piled on the runs. At one point, Herefordshire were 361-4 before wickets fell in the end-of-innings run chase.

Coles was also the top-scorer in the Wiltshire first innings with 75 while Edward Kilbee (52) provide useful back-up. Leg-spinner Mohammed Pardesi (3-59) was the most successful Herefordshire bowler with good support from Will Barrett (3-61) and Wadlan (2-66).