HEREFORDSHIRE were put to the sword as they bowed out of the Unicorns Trophy with a crushing 132-run defeat by Staffordshire at Himley last Sunday.

Both teams had a chance of qualifying for the quarter-finals, dependent on events elsewhere, but neither did, though it wasn’t for the want of trying from Staffordshire as they amassed a county record one-day score against Herefordshire.

Staffordshire dominated proceedings after electing to bat, with Tim?Maxfield (five sixes and eight fours in a 62-ball 84) and Danny Brierley (80 off 73 balls) adding 139 in 18 overs for the third wicket. Useful contributions also came from Michael Hill (six sixes in his 49) and Ben McGuire (49 not out) as the home county ran up a formidable 398-7 off 50 overs. Leg spinner Mo Pardesi was the pick of the Herefordshire bowlers, though he conceded 84 runs in picking up three wickets.

In reply Herefordshire showed they were up for the challenge by racing to 89 for one in their first power play.

Matt Pardoe (74) and David Ball (31) put on a brisk 72 in just seven overs before they were both dismissed in quick succession and though Alex Milton (68 off 64 balls) kept the momentum going, the introduction of authentic 18-year-old spin twins Callum (two for 38) and Matthew Parkinson (three for 47) turned the game Staffordshire’s way.

From 234-six, Herefordshire fell away to 266 all out and by then news had filtered through from Henley that Berkshire had beaten Oxfordshire by one wicket to claim the last quarter-final spot.