The overhanging tree at Colwall cost Herefordshire dearly

Herefordshire went down by five runs in their MCCA Trophy group game against Cornwall at Colwall, where the branches of a tree robbed them of six.

Cornwall made 253 in their 50 overs, before home skipper Chris Burroughs made a fine 93.

Herefordshire needed seven to win from the final over, but Cornwall crept in.

Three times in the closing overs balls hit out of the ground touched the branch of an overhanging tree and were given as fours rather than sixes.

The umpires had agreed with the skippers before the start of play that, under local rules, the balls that hit the tree would only be fours.

Earlier a superb innings of 100 not out from Cornwall's Chris Hunkin, including three sixes and 10 fours, had set up the Cornwall total, despite good spells from Lew Sellers and Burroughs for the home side.

Herefordshire were struggling in the run chase before Burroughs, Stuart Wedge and Simon Roberts put bat to ball.