HEREFORDSHIRE produced another disappointing batting performance to slump to a two-day innings defeat in their MCCA Championship clash with Dorset at Bashley.

Despite trailing by 151 runs on the first innings, there seemed little in the pitch to spark a collapse of the sort which saw Herefordshire dismissed for just 128 second time around.

On the first morning, Herefordshire after winning the toss and choosing to bat for the third time in three games, made another poor start, slipping to 20-3.

However, a good stand of 83 between Mahaaz Ahmed, whose 51 was his first championship half-century, and all-rounder Dave Ball took the visitors to lunch without further loss.

Ball showed immense application in batting for more than four hours for his 74 but only Tom Hage (34) stayed with him for long as wickets continued to tumble.

Ian Bullock struck an unbeaten 21 but Herefordshire were dismissed for 213 in the last of their 90 overs.

Although Hage (2-90) picked up an early wicket, Dorset got away to a solid start and it was only when Ball was introduced into the attack on the second morning that wickets began to fall.

The Dorridge all-rounder collected three victims in the early session before the home side began to pull away with some good batting from Scott Currie (92) and Harry Fisher who compiled a fifth-wicket stand of 160.

Ball, however, was far from finished and it was his late spell which served to limit the lead as he acquired four further victims to finish with 7-86, his best county figures.

Herefordshire openers Kieran Smith (10) and Jujhar Johal (26) looked as if they had got past early danger points.

But when both were dismissed, the batting inexplicably fell away.

Only Ball, who added a further 42 runs to his already immense contribution to the game, was able to stay around for long before becoming the

last wicket to fall – his needless run-out a symbol of much of the waste which had gone before.

Herefordshire are next in action on August 4 against Oxfordshire with the venue now moved to Challow and Childrey from the Parks, where the surface is not currently suitable for Minor Counties cricket.