DESPITE turning in their best batting performance of the season, Hereford tumbled to an 80-run defeat against Devon at Sidmouth and lost their grip on their NCCA Western Division 1 status after two years.
Herefordshire trailed by 106 runs on first innings and were unable to overturn the deficit second time around on an entertaining third afternoon when many of those at Sidmouth were keeping a watchful eye on events on Banbury.
In the weekend’s other championship clash, after various twists and turns, Oxfordshire ultimately went down by 73 runs to Cheshire, a result which meant Devon’s clinched them the Western Division title for the first time since 2011.
Devon won the toss and batted first in fine conditions on an excellent pitch, powering on to an imposing 377-9 from their 90 overs, largely thanks to a superb unbeaten 154 from Elliott Hamilton.
Ben Chapman-Lilley’s improving off-spin saw him produce the best figures among the Herefordshire bowlers with 3-71, well supported by James Rudge (2-96).
Chapman-Lilley was in excellent form with the bat when Herefordshire suspended, proceeding serenely to an expertly compiled century which was ended at 118 by an unfortunate twist of fate.
The Barnt Green opener was the non-striker when Ollie Rogoff launched a powerful straight drive which deflected off the bowler on to the stumps with Chapman-Lilley out of his ground.
It was a blow which sent the Herefordshire innings into a terminal decline as, helped along by a handful of careless shots, the visitors collapsed from 215-3 to 271 all out.
Only skipper Nick Hammond (35) and Roshan Venkataraman (30 not out) joined Chapman-Lilley in reaching 30.
Already holding a substantial advantage, Devon piled on the runs quickly in their second innings, scoring in excess of five an over before applying the closure on the third morning and setting Herefordshire a target of 360.
While this would have been Herefordshire’s biggest ever run chase, there was a degree of optimism taking into account a still good pitch and perfect batting conditions.
And Herefordshire made a good effort at attacking the target with Chapman-Lilley (51) and Conor Smith (56) carrying the challenge forward.
Venkataraman (68) also batted well before he was last out, holing out in the deep to leave Herefordshire some way short of the win they needed to maintain their top-flight status.
