HERTFORDSHIRE YOUNG CRICKETERS completed their ECB County Championship Programme in a rain-affected two-day match against Oxfordshire at Bishop's Stortford but lost out by 11 runs to finish third in their group behind Herefordshire and Oxfordshire.

After the visitors had won the toss and chosen to bat on a good-looking pitch, Hertfordshire performed well on the first day bowling them out for 286 in 100 overs.

Tring Park's Michael Pearce made the first breakthrough, having one of the openers caught behind by Adam Shelley when the score was only 24, but the second wicket pair stayed together until mid-afternoon, putting on 97.

From this point the pendulum swung in Hertfordshire's favour and wickets fell at regular intervals through Pearce (2-20), Charlie Bailey of Langleybury (2-47) and Kieran Morgan (1-27) until the total had reached 228 for 7.

The introduction of Welwyn Garden City's Tom Cranston into the attack to bowl the 97th over turned out to be an inspired piece of captaincy, for in the space of 14 deliveries he had the last three batsmen caught out to give him figures of 3-3.

An overnight score of six for no wicket in reply left Herts with high hopes of victory as Morgan, who had gone in as a superior quality nightwatchman, batted expertly during the morning session in which three wickets went down, and was only out for 38 in the third over after lunch, making the total 80-4.

Although Herts made good progress, when captain Ross Channer was given out lbw and, three balls later, Newman was caught in the gully off a top-edge for 71, the match was effectively over.

August 23, 2002 11:00