Herefordshire's match abandoned

Herefordshire face having to bat for much of the final day to earn a draw

Heavy rain washed out the final day of Herefordshire's third Minor Counties Championship match of the season against Cheshire at Nantwich.

The home side had finished overnight on 201-5 in their second innings giving them an overall lead of 328.

But the heavy rain that affected much of the country overnight meant that not a ball was bowled on the third day.

Both sides take 12 points, but Cheshire will feel the more aggrieved as they would have been confident of victory.

Cheshire's Lancashire Academy player Chris Tipper was the key figure.

After being dropped on five, he made 219 as the home side declared on a massive first innings 454.

He then backed this up in the second innings by making 50 as Cheshire looked to have taken the game away from Herefordshire by the end of the second day.

Ben Spendlove was unbeaten on 71 overnight as the home side improved on their first-innings lead of 127.

And Herefordshire would have faced the prospect of batting for much of the final day to save the match.

But rain ultimately had the final say as play was abandoned shortly before lunch.

It was not all one-way traffic on Monday as Herefordshire dug deep to avoid the follow-on, making 327 all out.

Skipper Chris Boroughs led from the front with 65, receiving good support from David Exall (41), before Stuart Wedge (53 no) then scored his maiden Herefordshire half-century.

Former Worcestershire bowler Wedge shared in a ninth-wicket stand of 62 (a Herefordshire record against Cheshire) with James Shackleton (26) as they steered the visitors towards the follow-on target of 305.

Herefordshire return to action at Corsham at the end of the month when they take on Wiltshire (26-28 July).

They then play Oxfordshire in their final home game of the summer at Colwall (August 9-11) before heading for Sidmouth to take on Devon (23-25 August).