HEREFORDSHIRE rounded off an excellent week by securing an East-of-England double with a 35-run win over Suffolk in the NCCA Trophy 50-over competition.
Earlier in the week, Herefordshire had beaten Suffolk’s near neighbours Norfolk by five wickets at Brockhampton.
As in the win against Norfolk, Herefordshire owed much to Ollie Walker who again top-scored with 66 as well as picking up a couple of wickets, one with a stupendous reaction caught-and-bowled.
But this was far from a one-man show as every member of the Herefordshire side contributed significantly to a memorable victory over a team which had won its previous two group matches.
Herefordshire, however, had made far from an exemplary start, slipping to 47-3 in the early stages despite a lively 30 from opener Sinel Gunarathne.
Walker then came in at number five and, with the help of a composed 28
from Alex Hinkley, took the score to 123 before the fourth wicket fell.
Luke Tulacz then dominated a fifth-wicket stand of 60 with Walker, contributing 42 off just 30 balls with eight fours and a six.
A third Herefordshire-born player, Ollie Langford was next to play his part with 21 off 20 balls, including two fours and a six, on his debut.
Although both Walker and Langford were dismissed with the score at 213, that was far from the end of the fireworks as Luke Powell, 17 off 17 balls, and James Rudge helped the scoreboard rattle along.
Rudge was last out after smashing 57 off 28 balls with six fours and four sixes as Herefordshire posted a formidable 292.
Suffolk started briskly with 60 on the board before the first wicket fell in the ninth over.
But Herefordshire’s spinners Imaad Mahmood (3-46) and skipper Matt Pardoe (4-55) kept things tight as well as picking up wickets regularly.
And with Walker (2-47) and Rudge (1-46) also collecting victims, Herefordshire dismissed the home side for 257 with just over four overs to spare.
