HERTFORDSHIRE are still waiting for their first Minor Counties Championship success of the summer following their draw with Suffolk.

Martin James' men have now played three games and will have do improve dramatically if they are to come close to repeating last season's third place in the Eastern Division.

In fairness to Herts, they made all the running against Suffolk, only to be denied by none other than St Albans skipper, Phil Caley, who held his side's second innings together when the win was well beyond their reach.

Batting first on an unusually awkward Long Marston track, Herts saw several batsmen get started, but none go one to make a big score out of their final 171-8.

Suffolk fared little better as 3-48 from Radlett spinner Ian Mulholland and 3-28 from county newcomer Chris Box of Hertford saw Caley declare just two runs behind on 169-7.

The second innings was a different proposition altogether and once the indomitable David Ward had made his annual century at Long Marston, Herts looked set to break their duck.

Ward smacked a superb 100 and was joined in by fellow opener Steve Lowe (72) in an opening stand of 141 as the Suffolk fielders started the second day on the back foot.

Only Box (21) and Marc Everett (25) managed to follow suit and skipper James set a testing target of 254 by declaring on 251-8.

His decision looked to have paid off as Suffolk lost three wickets with the score on 23, before a 58-minute interruption for rain effectively saved them from defeat.

It meant Suffolk had just 45 overs to survive and although Mulholland added 3-24 to his first innings haul as Herts took seven second-inning wickets, they could not remove Caley, who remained unbeaten on 36 to deny his opposite number a first championship win of the season.

Minor Counties Championship

Herts 171-6 & 251-4 Suffolk 169-7 & 117-7