HEREFORDSHIRE County Cricket Clubs Xl got their season underway with an exciting two-wicket win over Gloucestershire 2nd at Wyeside on Sunday.

Gloucestershire won the toss and elected to bat first but lost wickets steadily to rest precariously at 86-7 as Ed Rollings (2-19), Alan Butterworth (2-26) and Richard Parker (2-33) bowled well for the home side.

Former Herefordshire Minor Counties batsman Paul Lazenbury, batting at number eight for the visitors, staged a recovery and virtually single-handedly dragged his side to a respectable score.

The left-hander went in at 81-6 and contributed an undefeated 78, including 12 boundaries, from 80 balls as Gloucestershire finished on 165-9 after Jabran Khalid (2-27) had taken the last two wickets to fall.

In reply, Herefordshire lost skipper Steve Williams, Jonny Walker and Henry Langford with just 17 runs on the board but a stand of 50 for the fourth wicket between Edward Symonds (25) and Adam Hewlett (31) laid the base for a recovery.

Shahid Ahmed (20) and Butterworth (24) continued the revival and Herefordshire were seen home by Nick Price (23 not out) and Khalid who scored 10 off the penultimate over from Alistair Bressington to secure a notable win.