County fail to press home early initiative

Steve Taylor and Andy Gray each helped themselves to three wickets but Shropshire failed to seize the initiative on the opening day of their Minor Counties Championship clash against Cornwall at Truro.

Despite a somewhat lethargic performance in the field, Shropshire had reduced the hosts to 87-4 in the final throes of the morning session - only for Cornwall to battle their way up to 290.

Cornwall then maintained their grip on proceedings by reducing Shropshire to 98-4 at the close with Wellington’s Simon Harding run out on debut without facing a ball.

Recalled seamer Jonty Mountford and Taylor both struck with the new ball to leave Cornwall reeling on 20-2 as openers Ben Smeeth and Gary Thomas each edged into the gloves of Anthony Parker, one of five victims for the Shifnal wicket-keeper.

Former Somerset all-rounder Keith Parsons then fell to Ted Bayliss, before the Cornwall middle-order led the fightback.Capitalising on some dropped chances, Antony Angrove, Tom Sharp and Alex Smeeth all made half centuries while Chris Hunkin chipped in with a patient 38.

A disciplined spell from spinner Andy Gray saw him claim 3-71 off 25 overs, while wickets for Mark Robinson, Taylor and Bayliss ensured Cornwall were eventually dismissed for 290.

Jono Whitney and John Maunders - who captained them for almost the entire afternoon session with skipper James Ralph off with a bruised finger - put on 31 for the first wicket before a collapse saw the visitors reduced to 36-3.

Whitney was first to go when he was trapped leg before by Richard Harrison for 15 before Harding endured his moment of misfortune when he and Maunders attempted a second run from a mis-field.

And Shropshire found themselves in further trouble when Maunders top-edged an attempted pull into the gloves of wicket keeper Gavin Edwards.

Parker and Atiq-ur-Rehman steadied the ship with a partnership of 62, before Parker was bowled by spinner Michael Munday off the final ball of the day to leave Shropshire with plenty of work to do with the bat on day two.