RAIN was the only real winner as Herefordshire’s opening NCCA Championship Western Division 2 three-day match with Wiltshire at Corsham ended in a draw.

Although rain delayed the start on the first day, Sunday saw by far the most action with almost the entire allocation of overs completed.

The second day was badly affected with a large chunk lost to rain, and it was a similar story on the final day when another downpour ended play at lunchtime.

Wiltshire won the toss and batted on the first morning and, benefiting from some lack-lustre early Herefordshire bowling, mad a solid start.

Openers James Degg (38) and Dylan Church (116) posted 82 for the first wicket and, with skipper Ed Young piling in with 75, the home side looked set for a massive total when they reached 255-3.

But Herefordshire, led by a good spell of bowling from skipper Matt Pardoe (2-63), gradually clawed back and, with James Rudge (2-49) and Roshan Venkataraman (2-37) seeing off the tail, the home side were dismissed for 331.

The visiting openers Ben Chapman-Lilley (40) and Rehan Edavalath (17) survived comfortably until the close and took their opening stand to 53 on the second day.

The best Herefordshire batting then came from Nick Hammond, who stroked 11 boundaries in a 52-ball 55, and Henry Cullen who moved along untroubled to his first Herefordshire century, with his 101 containing 12 fours and two sixes.

Pardoe (20) and Ollie Walker (17) helped Cullen build the total and then Nathan Bowley marked his debut with a useful unbeaten 41.

But a late collapse saw Herefordshire’s innings conclude on 324-9, just one run short of maximum batting points.

Wiltshire had just had time to begin their second innings when the rain returned.

With the other divisional game – Shropshire against Dorset – also badly affected by rain, Wiltshire top the section after one game with 12 points.

Herefordshire are in second place, just a point behind. Herefordshire begin their home programme with a three-day game against Wales at Eastnor, starting on Sunday at 11am.