Wiltshire 206 all out Herts 192-9 Wiltshire won by 14 runs Herts lost a tense Minor Counties One-Day Trophy match at Radlett to Wiltshire by 14 runs on Sunday. The match swung throughout an absorbing day, with each side having the advantage and then the

Wiltshire 206 all out Herts 192-9

Wiltshire won by 14 runs

Herts lost a tense Minor Counties One-Day Trophy match at Radlett to Wiltshire by 14 runs on Sunday.

The match swung throughout an absorbing day, with each side having the advantage and then the other fighting back strongly several times.

Herts won the toss, and after Saturday's heavy rain, put Wiltshire into bat.

Wiltshire had a solid platform at 130-2 in the 38th over from which to launch an assault in the final overs.

But Herts stepped up a level with off-spinner Matt Smith (3-40) and Knebworth Park all-rounder Tony Skeggs (3-32) backed by some aggressive fielding.

Wiltshire lost wickets regularly and battled through to 208 all out, a total Herts felt was gettable if they batted sensibly throughout their 50 overs.

Herts were soon in trouble at 14-2 with both captain Andy Lewis and key batsman David Ward adjudged leg before.

Herts fell to 67-4 after 20 overs before Aaron Laraman and Steven Lowe worked hard to take Herts up to 135 in the 39th over before Lowe was caught for 61.

Now the run-rate entered the equation for the first time, with Herts needing 64 off nine overs, then 52 off seven.

Tom Jenkins, the Knebworth Park wicketkeeper/batsman, joined Laraman and the two just kept up with the rate required.

A disastrous mix-up ended with Laraman run out for 53 and Herts needed 42 off six overs.

Eventually they needed 24 off three overs and in a desperate attempt for a miracle shot, Skeggs was bowled.

This left Hitchin's Dave Moore and Jenkins with the unlikely mission of scoring 20 off the last over.

The loss virtually rules out Herts' chances of reaching the semi-finals.

They will look to recover the winning habit against Oxfordshire at Aston Rowant on Sunday.

Herts start their Championship programme with a three-day match against Bedfordshire at Hertford, starting on Sunday, May 28.

Herts v Oxfordshire: AS Lewis (captain, North Mymms), DM Ward (Old Whitgiftians), AW Laraman (Welwyn GC), BJ Frazer (Welwyn GC), SP White (Welwyn GC), RS Marshall (Sawbridgeworth), DP Moore (Hitchin), TE Jenkins (Knebworth Park), SJ Lowe (Radlett), ME Smith (West Herts), AE Skeggs (Knebworth Park).