Murray joins Scots at County Week

Murray and Owen Hadden won three matches but were on the losing team

Andy Murray treated spectators at County Week in Eastbourne to a surprise display as he represented the North of Scotland against Hertfordshire.

The world number three called Ian Conway, the Scots' captain, to offer his services on day three of the event.

Murray and partner Owen Hadden secured three straight victories but could not prevent Hertfordshire winning 5-4.

"I know pretty much all these guys from junior days," said Murray, who now heads to the United States.

"I don't get to see them too often these days, a lot of them are coaches now and when Jamie said they needed us, I wasn't doing anything so it was an easy decision to come and play."

606: DEBATE Your thoughts on Murray's surprise appearance in Eastbourne

Conway said: "I was delighted to get the call. It says a lot about his character that he wanted to join us."

With the match tied at 3-3 after two rounds, Hertfordshire's Neil Bamford and David Rice defeated Jamie Murray and Johnny Pankhurst, while their team-mates David Corrie and Ed Corrie enjoyed a 6-3 6-1 victory over North of Scotland's Steve Birrell and Tim Weir.

Andy Murray and Hadden rounded off the action, beating Nick Lester and Neil Roskilly. The relatively low-key event has no ball boys or girls, meaning the players have to retrieve the balls themselves.

"Andy was great," Lester told the ATP World Tour website. "He called his own lines, and when he wasn't sure he always asked my partner, Neil Roskilly, and I what we thought.

"We were lucky to have played him in the third round of matches, so he was a little tired. But he smashed down a few serves when it was needed and they eventually won."

Murray now heads off to begin the North American hard-court swing of tournaments with the Masters 1000 events in Montreal and Cincinnati next month, ahead of the US Open (31 August-14 September).

Brother Jamie will remain in Eastbourne in the hope of helping North of Scotland avoid relegation.