MATCH-manager Tom Bevan hailed Richard Taylor and Jamie McIlroy after Herefordshire County Cricket Club 2nd team’s opener.

Taylor, who lives in Elton, showed plenty of patience and struck 54 from 121 balls in Herefordshire’s 235 all out.

The 19-year-old batted for more than two hours against a strong attack, just days after turning out for Ludlow 2nd.

And quick bowler Jamie McIlroy, a tall left-arm steamer, took 1-23 from 10 overs and produced a beauty to remove Backiewicz.

“Individually, Taylor and McIlroy were very impressive,” said Bevan, who is heavily involved at Wormelow and once had a spell at Colwall.

“We know that David Exall is a top-quality cricketer but it was great to see two shining lights from the seconds who have aspirations to make the grade one day.

“Taylor's patience and concentration to bat the length of time and lay the platform was impressive, while McIlroy’s accuracy and control with the ball shone in the field.”

Ben Stebbings and Exall were the only two Herefordshire first-team players in the squad, while Pete Sykes, Ernie Morgan and Derek Hince were at the match.

“It was a positive start for us but an immediate learning curve for most coming up against excellent cricketers who displayed the step up in quality to the next level,” said Bevan.

Goodrich’s James O’Brien was the sole representative from the Marches League and Bevan was pleased with his showing.

“James was unlucky with the bat, sacrificing his wicket for the team in the mad dash for runs at the end of the innings.

“He bowled well and highlighted the difference in class, noticing that if you were slightly off the mark with the ball, you were put away to the boundary.

“It was a good team effort, a very pleasing atmosphere and a good competitve fixture separated by one individual’s superb performance.”

Chairman of Herefordshire 2nd XI Ian Macklin, said he was surprised at the number of talented players in the county.

“I’m aware that a lot of talented local players have never quite made it because they didn’t really care enough,” he said.

“We’re not asking for obsession just a bit of passion for the game and the part they can play in it.

“We will be organising some team building events so that the players can develop as a group and we can have a look at how they interact.

“We need to be looking for leaders as well - its great to have a local player as captain of the first team and we need to be looking for his successor in this group.

“I’m really quite surprised at how many talented players we have, although in terms of individual cricket-