ECB 38 County Cup Final Report

Herefordshire, a Minor County for just nine years, lifted their first major trophy with a 42-run win over Cheshire in the final of the ECB 38-County Cup at Lord's.

Cheshire, bidding for a record fourth one-day victory in Minor Counties finals, were left chasing the tallest of tall orders after Herefordshire posted a formidable 291 for six off their 50 overs.

A third wicket stand of 203 in 33 overs between Paul Lazenbury (118) and Chris Boroughs (94) put Herefordshire in the driving seat, and they free-wheeled to victory on the back of veteran seamer Kevin Cooper's five for 29 helping restrict Cheshire to 249 for nine.

Boroughs and Lazenbury, a 22-year-old left-hander previously with Gloucestershire and now interesting Kent, bludgeoned 11 sixes between them over an absurdly short Tavern boundary as Cheshire's limited bowling was put to the sword. Lazenbury hit six sixes and eight fours off 130 balls, while Boroughs batted for 96 deliveries, hitting five sixes and eight fours off an attack lacking variety.

A target of 292 was always a tough ask for Cheshire, but despite some tight bowling from Scotland's James Brinkley, they nibbled away to reach 92 for one off 23 overs.

But then Cooper intervened to demolish the top of their batting line-up. The 42-year-old former Nottinghamshire and Gloucestershire seamer struck with the first ball of each of his two spells, the second of which removed opener Paul Bryson for a well-crafted 73.

Richard Hignett (38) and Chris Brown (39 not out) then struck some lusty blows but they were all to be in vain.