HEREFORDSHIRE'S hopes of qualifying for the quarter-finals of the Unicorns Trophy took a giant step forward with a convincing 8-wicket win against Buckinghamshire at Brockhampton.

Played on an overcast morning last Sunday, Herefordshire won the toss and invited Buckinghamshire to bat.

After just 8 overs, Herefordshire had reduced them to 17-3, Dan Conway and Dave Ball sharing the wickets.

An obdurate stand of 44 between Buckinghamshire’s captain, Mark Payne (22) and former Hampshire player Hamza Riazuddin (16) in 19 overs steadied the tide but when they were dismissed by the 30th over their score stood at 69-5.

George Russell (48) along with Dan Hampton (33) and Matthew Rance (14) then scored useful runs as Buckinghamshire set Herefordshire a target of 170.

Herefordshire openers Matthew Pardoe (78) and Liam Gwynne (67) found few demons in the wicket, which improved as the match went on.

Their partnership of 140 took just 26 overs before Pardoe found Rance in the field off Shaan's delivery.

Gwynne then soon came, with Khan again getting the wicket, but Herefordshire never looked in trouble.

Dave Ball soon scored a quick fire 18 to see the county side home with almost 19 overs to spare.

Herefordshire's last group game is away to Staffordshire at Himley this Sunday.

They go into their game knowing victory will ensure them of a quarter-final place.

But as they have such a superior run rate, they could still qualify if they lose if other results go their way.