Hertfordshire start their Minor Counties Championship in confident mood this Sunday with a three-day game. They play neighbours Bedfordshire at Hertford CC, starting at 11am on Sunday morning. Buoyed by their outstanding win against Oxfordshire, captain A

Hertfordshire start their Minor Counties Championship in confident mood this Sunday with a three-day game.

They play neighbours Bedfordshire at Hertford CC, starting at 11am on Sunday morning.

Buoyed by their outstanding win against Oxfordshire, captain Andy Lewis, the North Mymms batsman, is excited about what lies in store.

"I am keenly anticipating the start to the Championship season off the back of our first win against Oxfordshire," he said.

"I believe the team are starting to develop nicely.

"Understanding how to win is a key to having a successful team and the way we beat Oxfordshire shows us just how to do that.

"With the batters scoring big scores, the bowlers bowling tight lines and being supported by the team working hard in the field as a unit we showed we can be a team who are hard to beat."

There is just one change to the one-day team with the West Herts batsman Spencer Fan coming in for Steve Lowe, of Radlett, who is not available.

"Spencer has a good record in the three-day game and will be an asset to the side," said Lewis.

David Ward, fresh from his century against Oxfordshire, leads a strong-looking batting line-up in which Welwyn Garden City's Aaron Laraman should have a big part to play.

Lewis, Rob Marshall of Sawbridgeworth, Fan, Ben Frazer of Welwyn GC, Matt Smith of West Herts and Knebworth Park's wicketkeeper-batsman Tom Jenkins will be followed by the all-rounders Simon White of Welwyn GC and Tony Skeggs of Knebworth Park to give the order real depth.

The seam bowling will be in the hands of David Moore, Hitchin's swing bowler, Laraman, White and Skeggs, with spin coming from Smith and Frazer.

Lewis continued: "Bedfordshire have yet to gain a win this season in the one-day competition so hopefully they will be on the back foot for this first game and we can hit them running.

"I just hope this lovely English weather is kind to us."

After the Bedfordshire game, Herts then revert to one-day mode to play Bucks at North Mymms CC on Sunday, June 4, which will be a homecoming party for Lewis.

Then, in what could be a truly spectacular day, they defend their Four Counties Twenty20 title against Bucks, Beds and Oxon at Burnham CC on Sunday, June 18.

Herts teams

Championship match against Bedfordshire (Sunday-Tuesday, May 28-30) Hertford CC, 11am start: AS Lewis (North Mymms, captain), SD Fan (West Herts), DM Ward (Old Whtgitians), RS Marshall (Sawbridgeworth), AW Laraman Welwyn GC), BF Frazer (Welwyn GC), ME Smith (West Herts), SP White (Welwyn GC), TE Jenkins (Knebworth Park)), AE Skeggs (Knebworth Park), DP Moore (Hitchin).

MCCA Knockout group match against Bucks (Sunday, June 4) North Mymms CCC, 11am start: AS Lewis (captain), SG Cordingley (Hertford), DM Ward, AW Laraman, BF Frazer, SP White, DP Moore, TE Jenkins, SJ Lowe, ME Smith, AE Skeggs.

Twenty20 Four Counties Competition (Sunday, June 18) Burnham CCC, 10.15am start: AS Lewis (captain), RS Marshall, DM Ward, AW Laraman, BF Frazer, SP White, DP Moore, TE Jenkins, SJ Lowe (Radlett), ME Smith, AE Skeggs, PB Barker (Potters Bar), PE Carlson (Hertford), SG Cordingley.