Herts go into their last home game of the season, a three-day Championship game against Northumberland at Bishop s Stortford, on a real high. This is after their thrilling match against Suffolk at Long Marston where they failed by just 12 runs to finish o

Herts go into their last home game of the season, a three-day Championship game against Northumberland at Bishop's Stortford, on a real high.

This is after their thrilling match against Suffolk at Long Marston where they failed by just 12 runs to finish off a marvellous run chase.

The way they played throughout the three days against a highly-rated team should have a positive effect at Stortford this Sunday.

Captain Andy Lewis said: "There was a massive improvement in attitude and application and we came so close to a truly memorable victory.

"I am so pleased that the team have made this big step in the right direction.

"Both myself and the player-coach, Aaron Laraman, have been asking the guys to step up and show how good we can be. The three days at Long Marston were just what we were looking for."

He was not alone in being impressed.

Suffolk's captain, the St Albans stalwart Phil Caley, said: "Herts looked like a new team, a solid professional unit."

Herts are still looking for their first Championship win in their fourth match out of the six-game programme.

Although Northumberland have lost their first three outings, Lewis knows they will be no pushovers.

Two of their defeats came when they declared to set up run chases, and when the two teams met last year in a badly rain-affected game, Northumberland shaded what play there was.

"They looked a better team than us in the first innings," continued Lewis. "This year I want to remind them of how good Hertfordshire are."

Northumberland's most recent outing was a four-wicket defeat by Bedfordshire.

The mainstay of their batting, former Yorkshire player Bradley Parker, got a century but Beds chased down the 280 they were set for victory.

Before that they had a similar three-wicket defeat by a strong Staffordshire side in a rain-affected game and suffered a heavy 275-run beating at the hands of high-flying Lincolnshire.

Lewis added: "It will be a tough match as they have a number of good players but again if we put in a team performance like Suffolk then I think we will come out the better side.