HEREFORDSHIRE missed a chance to go top of the Minor Counties Championship Western Division when they lost by seven wickets to Wiltshire at Luctonians CC.

After setting Wiltshire 200 to win in 48 overs, they quickly reduced the visitors to 29-3 with Paul Humphries taking all three wickets.

But they had no more success as an unbroken stand of 171 between Roger Sillence (106no) and Russell Rowe (65no) saw Wiltshire home with 10 overs to spare.

Wiltshire earlier declared on 260-6 in their first innings and Herefordshire then made 165-8, skipper Harshad Patel top-scoring with 35.

Herefordshire now drop to third behind Oxfordshire, who they play this weekend, and new leaders Dorset.

Herefordshire's ECB 38 Counties Competition semi-final against Berkshire on August 10 has been switched from Luctonians to Kington.