HEREFORDSHIRE suffered two defeats in their T20 pre-season double-header with Wales on Sunday.

But the county side showed enough promise in their displays to indicate that they will be in contention when their National Counties T20 group games begin on Sunday with a visit from Cornwall to Brockhampton.

In the first match, some powerful lower-order hitting from James Rudge reduced the final deficit to just 13 runs.

And in the second match, Herefordshire seemed to be heading for victory when they reduced their hosts to 63-6 chasing 141 to win, only for home skipper Sam Pearce to produce some mighty hitting which guided his team to success with 15 balls to spare.

In the first match, Wales made a rapid start with Steve Reingold (47) leading the way.

But the hosts were pegged back as Alex Russell (3-17) and Barney Morgan (2-24) carved through the middle order.

Skipper Matt Pardoe played an important role, too, in conceding just 10 runs from three overs.

None of the Herefordshire batsman were able to settle during the reply and wickets fell regularly.

But Rudge, who smashed 34 from 17 balls including five sixes, raised hopes of a dramatic win until he was the last man to go, caught on the boundary from the last ball of the 19th over.

In the second match, Herefordshire batted first and posted a competitive 140-9 with Ollie Walker, who struck three massive sixes in his 28.

And when Chris Steele (3-15) played a key role in blasting out the Wales top order, Herefordshire seemed well on top.

But Pearce was not going to be denied and, in partnership with Greg Holmes (24 not out), he hammered his side to victory.