HEREFORDSHIRE County Cricket Club sustained a crushing 133-run defeat against Oxfordshire at Brockhampton this week.

A middle order collapse in the first innings proved to be the county side's downfall which saw them 92 runs behind the visitors in the Unicorns Championship Western Division match.

A solid showing in the second innings saw Oxfordshire declare on 261-2, leaving Herefordshire needing 354 runs to secure victory.

That was always going to be tricky and despite a fine half century Liam Gwynne, Herefordshire were eventually skittled out for 220.

After being out into bat after losing the toss, Oxfordshire made a poor start and were soon 32-2.

Dan Conway removed the wicket of Hugo Darby for 21 before Jamie McIlroy got out Harrison Ward.

Lloyd Sabin and Richard Kaufman steadied the ship for Oxfordshire before Sabin and Jonathan Cater were both removed by Ali Jahangir.

Kaufman would eventually make 62 before he went, which saw further wickets tumble.

But Luke Ryan and Karl Penhale, batting at nine and ten, put on excellent partnership, with Ryan finishing unbeaten on 58.

Janangir was Herefordshire's top bowler and finished with five wickets.

Herefordshire started very well when they were put into bat, with Matt Pardoe scoring nearly a run a ball before he was caught by Kaufman off Ryan.

Alex Phillips then went for just one before Chris Whittock departed having made only seven off 24 balls.

Liam Gwynne did make a fine 66, but Herefordshire needed more players to make a big score and it did not arrive and they were eventually out for 179.

Early wickets would have brought Herefordshire back into the game, but they found the opening Oxfordshire of Darby and Ward in imperious form.

Darby made 63 before he was bowled by McIlroy, but Oxfordshire had already made 137.

Pardoe then got Sabin's wicket for 20, but that was as good as it got for Herefordshire.

Kaufman smashed the ball around to finish unbeaten on 55 off 44, with Ward also making a century before Oxfordshire declared.

Herefordshire's hopes of getting anything from the game was made even more difficult when Pardoe went for just three.

Gwynne and Phillips did put on a good partnership but Penhale soon removed Phillips for 32.

Gwynne then went after making 51, which left Herefordshire on 100-3, before Lowen went for 15.

Whittock made a steady 35 before he went, with captain David Exall the next to go.

Oxfordshire then ripped into the tail-end, with only Mo Pardesi (36) getting into double figures.