HEREFORDSHIRE suffered the agony of defeat in a sudden-death bowl-out in their Minor Counties Association Trophy second round clash with Staffordshire at Porthill Park, Newcastle-under-Lyme.

They lost 4-3 in the bowl-out after rain halted play with Staffordshire, who had been put into bat, on 105-2 after 27 overs with the experienced Kim Barnett unbeaten on 44.

The result was eventually decided by five players from each side bowling two deliveries at a set of unguarded stumps.

Mark Horrocks, Kevin Cooper and skipper Chris Boroughs all scored one hit each for Herefordshire but Harshad Patel and Karl Pearson both missed twice.