HEREFORDSHIRE bounced back from a last-ball defeat in the first of their Minor Counties T20 double-header with Oxfordshire at Brockhampton to win the second outing by eight runs.

The hosts had suffered heartbreak in the first match when Oxfordshire, needing two to win from the last ball of their innings, hit a six to edge over the line.

But honours were squared in the second game when Herefordshire were always in control in a lower-scoring match.

Herefordshire, who were put into bat in first match, set a competitive target by scoring 157-3, largely thanks to an unbeaten 97 from all-rounder Pete Burgoyne who lashed three sixes and eight fours from 63 balls.

David Ball (29) shared a third-wicket stand of 65 with Burgoyne while skipper Matt Pardoe chipped in with a useful 17.

Oxfordshire kept up with the rate through their innings but needed a mighty blow from skipper Jonathan Cater (57 not out) to see them over the line.

Experienced seamer Dan Conway, who conceded just 19 runs from his four overs, was the most impressive of the home bowlers.

The second match followed the same pattern as the first with Herefordshire again being invited to bat first.

Burgoyne was again in excellent form as he dominated an opening stand of 87 with Pardoe, striking six sixes and four fours from only 44 balls before being stumped by Cater.

Pardoe took up the mantle after Burgoyne’s dismissal and struck a couple of big sixes in his 32.

Debutant Callum Lea also contributed a useful 17 before Herefordshire finished their 20 overs on 141-7.

Tom Hage, who bowled well to take 2-13 from his four overs, and Conway

(2-30) picked up early wickets to disrupt the early stages of the Oxfordshire reply.

And another debutant Riecko Parker-Cole (2-47) collected a couple of victims with the aid of excellent catches from Pardoe and Ball, who also bowled well to concede only 16 runs from his four overs.

Although George Tait blasted a couple of fours from Conway’s final over, the seamer held his nerve to guide the hosts to an eight-run success.