Shropshire will be reaching for the calculators after a crucial victory over Cumberland that has kept their MCCA Trophy hopes alive.

Defeat at Shrewsbury’s London Road yesterday would have left them facing up to another year without making the knockout stages.

But their 64-run victory last night means they are now involved in a remarkably tight battle for the top two spots in Group One.

Cheshire’s shock defeat to Oxfordshire means any of the five sides could still finish in the qualification places, and it may well all come down to net run rate in the final reckoning.

“We had to win to stand any chance of going through, really,” said skipper James Ralph, whose side complete their group matches away at Bedfordshire next Sunday.

“It’s not knockout cricket yet but it’s got to the stage where it might as well be for us, at the moment.

“We’re still reliant on other results, but all we can do is win our games.”

Shropshire’s victory yesterday was set up by an unbeaten 132 from pro John Maunders, who led his side to a final total of 245-7.

Three wicket hauls from paceman Steve Taylor and spinner Andy Gray then restricted Cumberland to just 181-9 in reply.

“It was a good performance and most of the foundation was laid by John Maunders’ fabulous knock,” said a delighted Ralph.

“It was outstanding, and everyone else batted well around him to get a good total. The bowlers bowled well and kept to tight lines and it was on a pretty flat track.”

It was third time lucky for Shropshire as they finally got their challenge for the MCCA Trophy up and running.After a washout against Oxfordshire and a rain-affected defeat at Cheshire last week, they plundered their first win of the season against Cumberland at a sun-soaked London Road in Shrewsbury.

A masterclass in batting from Shropshire’s new pro John Maunders laid the foundation for the success, his maiden century steering the hosts to a commanding total of 245.

And a fine exhibition of line and length from fast bowler Steve Taylor, backed up by the spin of Andy Gray, then ensured the visitors never looked like chasing that down as they saw it out for a 64-run victory.

“It’s a fabulous result and a really good performance so I’m very, very pleased indeed,” said chairman of selectors Trevor Sheperd.

“John Maunders’ innings was very professional and he played it beautifully, so well done to him because it was a tremendous effort.

“When we were 60-odd for two he really knuckled down and got the ones and twos to get us going again.

“We’ve got a really good bowling attack too, and were absolutely delighted with the way everybody bowled.

“Andy Gray bowled beautifully with that slow stuff in the middle. He contained them when they needed containing and he got the danger man (Gary Pratt) out.

“But Steve Taylor deserves a big mention too. Ten overs, 3-18, that’s some kind of bowling!”

It was all the more impressive from Shropshire, who lost the toss and were put in on a slow outfied which made hitting boundaries a Herculian feat in the early stages.

Maunders stuck around, nudging ones and twos where possible, but he lost partners as Ed Foster fell for 14 and Jono Whitney for just four.

Attiq Rehman provided support, contributing 19 to a partnership of 51 runs before he fell leg before to the bowling of Cumberland skipper Marcus Sharp.

Duncan Catterall only survived 11 balls and three runs before he went the same way to off spinner Chris Miller, but skipper James Ralph at least hung around to put on a quickfire 28 from 29 balls, which included three fours and one big six.

Allrounder Taylor put on 20, but following his dismissal it was all about Maunders, as he accelerated in the final few overs to set an imposing target.

The last eight deliveries included three fours and one giant six out of the ground, which actually cracked the patio windows of a neighbouring house.

His unbeaten 132 took Shropshire to 245-7, and that was a target Cumberland never looked like chasing down.

They were behind the run-rate from the start, taking 98 deliveries to reach their 50 as the impressive bowling of Taylor pegged them back.

He took two early wickets but also kept a tight grip on the scoring, going for less than two an over.

Gray in the middle also cause problems with his spin and, when he removed Pratt leg before for 49, Cumberland’s last hope was extinguished.

They held on to see the innings out but finished 64 runs adrift at 181-9 to leave Shropshire in with a real chance of prolonging their involvement to the knockout stages.