Double-centurions inflict heavy defeat on Herefordshire (From Hereford Times)
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Double-centurions inflict heavy defeat on Herefordshire
11:28am Friday 29th July 2011 in Cricket
Callum Stewart (front) was Herefordshire's hero with an 11-wicket haul in their previous game against Dorset, but neither he nor any other member of the county's attack was able to contain the Berkshire higher order.
HEREFORDSHIRE were unable to sustain the promise of their win over reigning champions Dorset when they were battered by high-flying Berkshire at Finchampstead.
The home county inflicted defeat by an innings and 44 runs on the Herefordshire side, the second biggest margin of defeat in the county’s 20 season history.
Berkshire won the toss and rattled up an impressive 507-7 declared.
Callum Stewart, who picked off 11 Dorset batsman in the previous match, must have thought that things were looking promising again when he quickly dismissed David Barnes but, after that, it was a day of toil for Herefordshire.
Leading the way with a second-wicket stand of 397 – the highest stand in the history of Minor Counties cricket – were Michael Roberts (205) and Jonathan McLean (210 not out).
In the closing stages, debutant Stephen Bevan, the Barnt Green left-arm spinner, picked up 4-120.
Herefordshire’s first innings only just exceeded the individual totals of the two Berkshire stars as they subsided to 214 all out.
Only skipper Chris Boroughs (77) and Faisal Shahid (46) were able to bat for any length of time.
It was a similar story in the second innings when former England spinner Shaun Udal (5- 63) showed he still retains his talent.
Tom Austwick (47) top-scored for Herefordshire with assistance from Ben Stebbings (37), Steve Adshead (36) and Dave Exall (36) as the county side were dismissed for 249.
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