HEREFORDSHIRE cricketers' campaign fizzled out on a damp note this week when, after losing a day through rain, they held out for a draw after following on to Berkshire at Reading in the Minor Counties Championship.

Berkshire, second in the Western Division, rattled up 491-4 on the first day with an unbeaten double-century from opener Tom Fray and then rain intervened on the second day.

Herefordshire's first innings attempt at a draw ended with their dismissal for 222 in 61.2 overs and, forced to follow on, they held on for 57 overs to finish with 158-3 after an unbeaten stand of 98 between skipper Chris Boroughs (47) and Mark Dale (36).

The visitors had no answer to the stroke-play of Fray when Berkshire elected to bat on the first day and the opener hit 31 boundaries in his 201 and shared an unbeaten fifth-wicket stand of 253 with Steve Naylor, who finished on 113.

Danny Shilvock was Herefordshire's most successful bowler with 2-79 off 17 overs, while Mohammad Ali bowled 27.2 overs for 1-118.

Ali came to the rescue with a fine innings of 70 after the visitors had slipped from 48-1 to 125-6 in reply. Dave Exall was the next highest scorer with 34 as Nick Denning and Tom Lambert took four wickets apiece.

Berkshire 491-4 (T Fray 201 no, S Naylor 113 no, J Wood 43, J Morris 42, B Mordt 22, P Pritchard 12. D Shilvock 2-79, R Parker 1-72) Herefordshire 222 (M Ali 70, D Exall 34, G Ahmed 31, G Nawaz 17, M Dale 15, T Brierley 12, T Glover 10. T Lambert 4-22, M Denning 4-68, J Morris 1-26, R Carter 1-66) & 158-3 (C Boroughs 47, M Dale 36, T Brierley 26, G Nawaz 20. J Wood 1-4, T Lambert 1-37, P Carter 1-60)