Berkshire vs Herefordshire CCC 31st May 2009 @ Eastnor CC


SKIPPER Bjorn Mordt led from the front as Berkshire hammered Herefordshire by 47 runs in their final group game in the Minor Counties Championship Trophy tie at Eastnor on Sunday.

It was their first win of the season and lifted them off the bottom of Group 3, but last season’s beaten finalists still failed to make the knock-out stages.

Henley’s Mordt made 112 not out as Berks amassed 316-5 in their 50 overs on a small ground with a fast outfield.

The visitors had made a bad start by losing opening David Barnes in the first over, but recovered well. Craig Crowe, promoted to opener, hit 75, Steve Naylor 49 and Jono McLean 27.

Berkshire pace bowlers James Lambert and Richard Logan were a little wayward early on and it was their spin bowlers who put the side on their way to victory.

Herefordshire finished on 269-9 off their 50 overs. Dan Yarnley took 3-50 off 10 overs, while Chris Peploe chipped in with 2-27.

Team manager David Morris said: “Although this was a dead rubber, I was still delighted to have won the game.

“We batted well, and could have got even a bigger total, but our pace bowling remains a concern. “We were a bit too wayward, conceding rather too many wides and no-balls.”