Player-coach Chris Brown took 3-22 against Hertfordshire

Norfolk started the new season with a 68-run win over Hertfordshire in the Minor Counties Knockout Trophy.

Norfolk posted 169-8 from their 50 overs on a slow wicket, opener Carl Amos top scoring with a determined 67.

Michael Eccles took two wickets in two balls in his first over to reduce Herts to 0-2 in reply, and they were eventually bowled out for 101.

Player-coach Chris Brown told BBC Radio Norfolk: "It was a slow wicket, the batsmen had to play responsibly."

Brown ended with figures of 3-22 and took the crucial wicket of Hertfordshire opener David Ward.

Norfolk's other spinner George Walker also claimed 3-22, but Eccles was the pick of the bowlers taking 3-5 from his seven overs, which included five maidens.

Brown praised his team's work ethic as they started their bid to regain the trophy they last won in 2005.

"It was a good team performance throughout, 169 was probably a good score on a slow wicket at this time of the year and I thought we bowled and fielded extremely well," he said.

Norfolk's next match in the group stages of the Trophy is against Suffolk on Sunday.

Suffolk are the defending champions having won the 2007 Trophy at Lord's.