HEREFORDSHIRE CCC lost out in a frantic finish to a rain-affected first Minor Counties Championship game of the season as visitors Dorset reached their second innings target of 223 on Monday.

Twenty-year-old all-rounder John Shaw, making his championship debut for Herefordshire, claimed the county's first ever hat-trick in the Minor Counties after the home side had declared at 225-2 in their first innings.

But rain interrupted play throughout the two days at Colwall and, with time running out for a positive conclusion, the two captains agreed to open up the game.

Herefordshire smashed 178-5 declared off 26 overs through a hugely reshuffled batting order.

Nathan Round set the county on their way with 45 from just 37 balls while Karl Pearson hit an emphatic 76 in 66 balls.

This set Dorset 223 to win off a minimum of 37 overs and the sun came out to give them the best batting conditions of the match.

Openers Glyn Treagus (59) and Matt Swarbrick (114) made the ideal start with a partnership of 165, which included a six that notched up Swarbrick's 1,000th championship run.

Their dismissals left the score at 209-2 but it was too little too late as Darren Cowley and Stuart Rintoul guided the visitors home in the 36th over, a result which gave Dorset 18 points to Herefordshire's eight.

Herefordshire had previously offset the gloom on Sunday with a bright start to their first innings as skipper Harshad Patel hit an unbeaten 91.

Fellow opener Rob Hughes made 66 in as many balls and shared a stand of 104 with Patel.

Wicket-keeper Ismail Dawood (59) also made a quick-fire half-century as part of a 109-run partnership with Patel as the county amassed 225-2 declared.

In reply, Swarbrick (61) and Cowley (33) put up some resistance before Shaw set about the destruction of Dorset's middle and lower order.

He quickly claimed two wickets before gaining his historic hat-trick.

Neil Thurgood holed out to Humphries at deep mid-on and David Kidner followed next ball, caught behind by Dawood. Sean Walbridge was the third victim when he was clean bowled.

And Shaw then polished off Dorset's innings when he bowled Vyv Pike, leaving him with impressive figures of 6-44 from 19.2 overs .

l James Brinkley will make his Minor Counties debut for Herefordshire this Sunday when they travel to play Berkshire at Finchamstead.

And the county are hoping to secure the services of former Somerset off-spinner Harvey Trump for the match, after a failed attempt to sign him last season.