Boroughs rues heavy Hereford loss

Herefordshire captain Chris Boroughs admitted his side had been well beaten in the 120-run Minor Counties Cricket Association Trophy defeat in Wiltshire.

Boroughs was not making any excuses after the home side racked up 334-3 in their 50 overs.

"It was a very disappointing way to start the new season but we didn't perform well with the ball," he said.

"You can't take anything away from them as they batted really well and we ended up chasing well over 300."

Despite a fine innings of 126 from Wiltshire's wicket-keeper-batsman Tom Morton, at one stage it looked as though Herefordshire might restrict the home side to around 275.

But former Hampshire all-rounder Greg Lamb (93no) and Michael Coles, who made an unbeaten 70 from only 26 deliveries, effectively took the game away from Boroughs' team.

Huw Jones did his best to engineer a run chase in making 52, but Herefordshire always looked as though they were going to fall short and were bowled out for 214 in the 48th over.

Boroughs admitted Herefordshire had struggled to put together a telling partnership.

It is going to be a difficult task but after the mauling we have had today hopefully we can put it right with a win

Chris Boroughs

"When you are chasing over 300 it is going to take something special from not just one, but two or three batters but unfortunately we just kept losing wickets at the wrong time," he said.

"The run rate was climbing and hence the pressure was increasing on the batsmen," he added.

This was clearly not the start that Herefordshire had been looking for as they chase a place in the latter stages of the Minor Counties' one-day tournament.

Boroughs told BBC Hereford and Worcester they have to do far better in their remaining group games, although it is not promising to be any easier when Devon visit Colwall on Sunday, 2 May.

"It is going to be even more difficult as Devon are strong every year," he admitted.

"It is going to be a difficult task but after the mauling we have had today hopefully we can put it right with a win.

"Then we would still be in with a chance of qualifying from our group."