SEAMER DAN Conway conjured up a fairytale finish to his Herefordshire career as the county side beat Wiltshire by one wicket in a thrilling Minor Counties Championship clash at Brockhampton.

Conway had announced before the match that, due to work and family commitments and not being available for the final game of the season against Wales in two weeks time, this would be his final county match.

And he arrived at the crease with 13 still required for victory in a low-scoring match.

But the schoolteacher and Ian Bullock (11 not out) kept their heads to inch Herefordshire towards victory and Conway finally launched a perfect off-drive for four to seal the win.

This was far from being Conway’s only contribution to the match as, on the first day after Herefordshire had won the toss and chosen to

field, he produced an expert display of seam bowling to return 6-51, the best figures of his eight seasons with Herefordshire.

Barney Morgan (3-63) gave excellent support and Conway was also responsible for the other wicket, touching a powerful drive on to the bowling end stumps in his follow through to run out William Wade.

There was some fine fielding from Herefordshire, too, with Mahaaz Ahmed – who in the second innings caught two equally superb efforts –

taking a fine slip catch and Kieran Smith an athletic grab in the deep.

Herefordshire’s reply was foundering at 33-6 but the lower order rallied, especially Bullock (23 not out) and Tom Hage who, although prevented from bowling after a knee injury, stamped his presence on the game with a hard-hit 50.

Herefordshire led by two on the first innings and plugged away well in the second Wiltshire response.

Morgan (3-85), George Pritchard (3-42), skipper Matt Pardoe (3-41) and Conway (1-33) shared the wickets as the visitors set a target of 207 for victory.

Pardoe (29) and Smith (33) got the chase off to a good start with a 71-run opening standing but wickets continued to fall thereafter to leave the game well poised at 133-6.

Morgan (17) and Alex Hinkley (26) moved the score on, however, to leave Conway to end the match in fitting fashion.