Minor Counties One Day TrophyHerts (263-9) beat Suffolk (256) by seven runsHERTS won for the second time in three outings in he Minor Counties one-day trophy in truly thrilling style on Sunday.Going into the 49th and penultimate over Suffolk, chasing

Minor Counties One Day Trophy

Herts (263-9) beat Suffolk (256) by seven runs

HERTS won for the second time in three outings in he Minor Counties one-day trophy in truly thrilling style on Sunday.

Going into the 49th and penultimate over Suffolk, chasing Hertfordshire's 263-9, were on 255-8 and looking good for victory, with former Essex all-rounder Tony Palladino in control having hit a quick half-century.

Andy Lewis chose the moment to give Welwyn Garden City all-rounder Jamie Hewitt, who has been struggling with his bowling action, his first bowl of the game in a gamble for victory, which looked have backfired when Hewitt's first ball was a wide. Palladino then took a single, which proved a fatal error for Suffolk's hopes and the key to a Hertfordshire win. Hewitt then struck twice in two balls to end the Suffolk innings and leave Palladino stranded on 51 not out off 36 balls.

It was a morale-boosting win for Herts after their disappointing defeat by Staffordshire and leaves them with a quarter-final place to play for in their final group game, against Norfolk at Welwyn Garden City on Sunday 31 May.

Lewis won the toss, and in a change of tactics from the first two games, decided to bat first. Hewitt and Potters Bar opener Steve Gale put on 57 for the first wicket, and although Lewis went for a duck, there were solid contributions all the way down the order.

Welwyn Garden all rounder Nick Walker made a rapid 27, club team-mate Aaron Laraman 31, Jamie Southgate, the 18-year-old all-rounder from Welwyn Garden a very composed 41 off 52 balls, Harpenden's Ben Frazer 19 and his club colleague Nick Lamb 16. Radlett's Paul Barker chipped in with an unbeaten 17 as Herts made a respectable, but not impregnable 263-9 from their 50 overs.

Herts' bowling was solid, with Welwyn Garden's Simon White taking 2-46, Frazer 2-52, Southgate 2-59 and Barker 1-46. Suffolk started briskly, and were on 99-3 after 20 overs, before Herts then slowed them down. At the start f the last 10 overs Suffolk were 188-7, still needing a further 75 to win, at which point Herts were strong favourites.

But Palladino turned the tide with his half-century. Until Hewitt was given the ball for that 49th over.