HEREFORDSHIRE will be playing their three-day cricket in NCCA Western Division 2 next season after a third straight defeat, against Oxfordshire at Thame, saw the county side relegated from the top flight.
But this latest reverse was far from being a one-sided affair with Herefordshire in firm control of the match up until the lunch interval of the second day.
Skipper Luke Tulacz won an important toss on the first morning and his experienced opening bowlers James Rudge and Roshan Venkataraman tore through the Oxfordshire line-up after the home side had been invited to bat.
Rudge finished with 6-41, his best figures in Herefordshire colours, while Venkataraman gave great support with 4-54.
Herefordshire got off to a fine start in reply with 59 on the board before Ben Chapman-Lilley (39) departed.
But Chapman-Lilley’s opening partner, Colwall teenager Henry Hardinges, played an outstanding innings, unfurling some superb cover- and off-drives on his way to a maiden county century.
He was out the next ball after reaching three figures, for 101, breaking up a century fourth-wicket stand with Venkataraman, who completed an excellent all-round day with 60.
On the second morning, Rudge (23) and George Hallam (17) helped to extend the Herefordshire advantage to 171 before two early wickets, one each for Rudge (3-58) and Venkataraman (2-158), saw the home side still under the cosh at 70-2 at lunch.
After that, however, things went rapidly downhill for Herefordshire as Harrison Ward, helped by five dropped catches, compiled a magnificent unbeaten 173 as Oxfordshire batted on and on to declare at 492-9.
Chapman-Lilley (16), who had earlier taken 2-48 with his off-breaks, was first to depart as Herefordshire tried to chase a massive fourth-innings target of 320 for victory.
As in the first innings, the best batting came from Hardinges (45) and Venkataraman (38), but Herefordshire subsided to 164 when the innings closed.
The county side’s task was made all the more difficult as they were forced to bat two short with Flynn Gunston, with a finger broken in three places, and Freddie Ammonds, with concussion after taking a fearsome blow at short leg, unable to go to the crease.
Both were set to miss Herefordshire’s final match, against Berkshire at Eastnor, on Sunday at 11am.
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