Hereford suffer a Minor Counties pounding from Wiltshire (From Hereford Times)

Hereford suffer a Minor Counties pounding from Wiltshire

8:00am Thursday 9th August 2012 in Sport

HEREFORDSHIRE suffered an embarrassing defeat when they were beaten by an innings and 98 runs in Wiltshire before lunch on the second day.

Wiltshire made a respectable 294 after winning the toss at South Wiltshire CC in Salisbury and deciding to bat.

Brockhampton and former Herefordshire batsman Henry Langford was second top-scorer with an 86-ball 44, backing up skipper Joe Breet (57) in an 88-run stand for the third wicket.

There three wickets apiece for Greg Leighton (3-45), debutant Dan Conway (3-62) and Callum Stewart (3-67).

Herefordshire’s troubles began almost immediately when opener Ben Stebbings was out first ball, his third successive Minor Counties duck.

With Steve Adshead (10), Chris Boroughs (one) and Brad Wadlan (two) following swiftly, only Dave Exall (38), Charlie Walker (16) and Andy Kimberlin (13 not out) stayed around to reach double figures as Hereford succumbed for 102.

Tahir Afridi (6-35) was the principal destroyer and struck quickly in the second innings, too, sending back Exall as Herefordshire made an even worse start, sliding to 31-7.

Charlie Walker held what remained of the lower order together for a while as he progressed to 50, sharing in a last-wicket stand of 38 with Conway (three) before being the last man out as Herefordshire were all out for a meagre 94.

Herefordshire have now slipped to the foot of the Western Division table and will be looking for an improvement in their fortunes when they travel to take on Cheshire on August 19.