Middlesex crash to shock defeat

Middlesex suffered one of the biggest upsets in English limited overs cricket when they lost to minnows Herefordshire by three wickets in the Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy on Wednesday.

The minor counties side faced a formidable victory target of 279 from 50 overs in the third-round home match but snatched an outstanding win with just one ball to spare.

Herefordshire's triumph followed a flying start from openers Harshad Patel (68) and Nathan Round (66), whose partnership of 129 included 92 off the first 12 overs.

No minor counties side had got near to such a big target against first-class opposition before but as Middlesex's bowlers failed to apply the brake, Ismail Dawood (34) and Nicholas Davies (39 not out) sealed their fate.

Herefordshire's reward is a match against their first-class neighbours Worcestershire in the fourth round on July 11.

Worcestershire recorded one of the most convincing victories of the day by 267 runs over another minor county side, Hertfordshire.

England discard Graeme Hick lashed 155 off 113 balls, with five sixes and 18 fours, as Worcestershire piled up 336 for eight at Hertford.

But it was reserve wicketkeeper Jamie Pipe, deputising for the injured Steve Rhodes, who went into the record books for holding eight catches.

That beat England wicketkeeper Alec Stewart's competition best of seven against Glamorgan seven years ago.

Australia's Darren Lehmann spared Yorkshire's blushes against Bedfordshire at Luton by hitting 88 after they had been reduced to 62 for four in pursuit of the home total of 211 for nine.

Yorkshire eventually won by four wickets with more than three overs to spare.

Holders Gloucestershire, who have won the competition under the sponsorship of NatWest for the last two years, beat the Sussex Cricket Board by 95 runs at Horsham after posting 238 for nine.

In the two all first-class clashes, Durham beat Hampshire by seven wickets -- Nicky Peng hitting a match-winning 119 for the home side -- and Glamorgan beat Derbyshire by three wickets at Cardiff.

The Welsh side, needing 195, slipped to 164 for seven after England pace bowler Dominic Cork seized three wickets in 12 deliveries, but Michael Powell (39 not out) and Alex Wharf (24 not out) carried their side home with some bold hitting.

Mail Cricket Editor