Herefordshire lose tense MCCA Trophy quarter-final aginst Cumberland (From Hereford Times)

Herefordshire lose tense MCCA Trophy quarter-final aginst Cumberland

9:00am Saturday 25th June 2011 in Cricket

DROPPED catches and wides proved costly as Herefordshire lost a nailbiting MCCA Trophy quarter-final tie against Cumberland.

On a typically excellent batting pitch at Brockhampton, Herefordshire set an imposing target of 301-9 in their 50 overs.

But, with the home county conceding 22 wides and dropping five catchable chances, Cumberland were guided to a one-wicket win by skipper Gary Pratt with just a single ball to spare.

Pratt’s excellent 105 was perfectly paced as Cumberland chased down a seemingly unlikely challenge of 64 from the final six overs.

The former Durham man, who achieved brief fame by running out Ricky Ponting as England’s 12th man in a crucial Ashes Test at Trent Bridge in 2005, was the beneficiary when Freddie Eburah grassed a very catchable, if powerfully stuck, opportunity at mid-on, with more than 50 runs still required.

Pratt, who hit nine fours and a six, was well assisted by Liam Watkinson, son of Lancashire coach and former England allrounder Mike Watkinson, as Cumberland reached the final over, to be bowled by Eburah, with just four required for victory.

Even then, there was some late drama as substitute Tom Austwick held a spectacular running catch off a steepling hit from Pratt.

Last man Chris Williams held his nerve as he joined Watkinson to inch the visitors over the line.

Earlier, Herefordshire had lost three early wickets after winning the toss, including inform wicket-keeper batsman Steve Adshead, who departed for just 16.

But skipper Chris Boroughs (73, including nine fours and a six) and all-rounder Brad Wadlan (58, including five fours and three sixes), in an impressive stand of 116 for the fourth wicket, set up the foundations of a big total.

Faisal Shahid, who top-scored with a hardhit 74 off 48 ball with nine fours and three sixes, pushed the scoring rate on in the latter overs as the tail-enders chipped in with useful contributions.

Luke Sellers (4-69) picked up the first three wickets in the Cumberland reply before the match dynamic changed again with a stand of 114 between Pratt and Ikram Ullah (64).

But when Ted Bayliss picked up two wickets in successive balls, the advantage seemed to have returned to Herefordshire until Pratt and Watkinson joined forces.