Herefordshire crash to 131 run defeat against Berkshire

16 Aug 2023   |   By Richard Prime

HEREFORDSHIRE wasted a superlative bowling performance by paceman James Rudge as they crashed to a 131-run defeat against Berkshire in a Western Division 1 clash at Eastnor.

Rudge produced his best county figures of 5-57 in the first Berkshire innings and went on to surpass that fine return with 5-54 in the visitors’ second effort.

But, after largely controlling the game for the first three days, Herefordshire, who had led on first innings, suffered a second-innings collapse to subside to their second-lowest ever total, dismissed for just 76 as they were heavily beaten.

Rudge picked up a couple of quick wickets on the first morning after Herefordshire had chosen to field after winning the toss.

With Roshan Venkataraman (3-42) also chipping in, Berkshire were in serious trouble at 99-7 only to be rescued by opener Johnny Connell (95) and Toby Greatwood (45) who added 99 for the eighth wicket.

Imaad Mahmood (2-12) then wrapped up the innings for 210.

Herefordshire began strongly with Ben Chapman-Lilley (91) and Rehaan Edavalath (43) posting 80 for the first wicket and, at 109-1 at the close, there was no doubt that the home side had dominated the first day.

But, after a rain-delayed start to the second, Herefordshire quickly collapsed to 121-5 before Chapman-Lilley was joined in a 73-run stand for the sixth wicket by Luke Powell, who played some enterprising shots, including two reverse sweeps for six, in his 48.

After being all out for 228, Herefordshire set about re-establishing their dominance with Rudge and Venkataraman (2-76) quickly sweeping away the visiting top order to leave them 25-4.

But Connell again produced a fine innings for Berkshire, missing out narrowly for a second time on a deserved century as he fell to Chapman-Lilley (1-13) for 94.

But his good work set up a target of 207 for the home side and the challenge always looked beyond them.

If Rudge had bowled superbly for Herefordshire then his efforts were trumped by Berkshire’s Luke Beavan.

After picking up 6-46 in the first Herefordshire innings, the left-arm spinner went even better with 7-21 second time around to earn the second-best match and the third-best innings figures ever against Herefordshire.

Only skipper Nick Hammond (20), Powell (17 not out) and Henry Cullen

(13) passed double figures on a sorry afternoon for Herefordshire.

The county side head for Devon this weekend needing to secure more points in their match than Cheshire do in their game against Oxfordshire to maintain their grasp on Division 1 status.

CAPTION: James Rudge bowled superbly at Eastnor to take 10 wickets in the match.