HEREFORDSHIRE'S cricketers got their season off to the best possible start with a comfortable win at local rivals Shropshire.

Off spinner Peter Burgoyne, who used to play for Derbyshire and England U'19s, took four wickets to help dismiss the opponents for just 130 before Herefordshire secured victory by seven wickets in their Minor Counties Knockout Trophy opener.

The win was particularly impressive given Shropshire opened the batting with Richard Oliver who has been a regular in Worcestershire's limited-overs squad for the past two seasons.

He was Burgoyne's first victim, bowled for 30, prompting a middle order collapse which saw Shropshire slump from 79-2 to 95-8.

Late resistance from home wicketkeeper Anthony Parker (27) helped bolster the total to 130 all out with Burgoyne finishing on 4-27 from his ten overs, with Neil Pinner and Dan Conway picking up two wickets each.

In reply, Herefordshire lost former Worcestershire duo Matt Pardoe and Neil Pinner cheaply, leaving the visitors 34-2, before Liam Gwynne and David Ball helped steady the ship.

Gwynne played well, hitting seven boundaries in a breezy 38 before he was caught by Oliver. This brought Chris Whittock to the crease and he helped finish the job with Ball who finished unbeaten on 40, which featured five fours and a six.

Whittock himself cleared the ropes once and also added two fours in helping his side over the line.

Herefordshire will play their first home match of the season at Colwall this Sunday when they take on Cheshire, also in the Knockout Trophy.