Bowlers were well on top as all 20 first innings wickets fell on a seesaw first day of the Minor Counties clash between Shropshire and Oxfordshire.

The flat Whitchurch track had looked inviting for batsmen – but that proved to be far from the case as wickets tumbled at regular intervals.

And the match was evenly poised going into the second day’s play, with Oxfordshire preparing to open their second innings just two runs adrift – having bowled Shropshire out for 182 in reply to their own total of 180.

It had looked like Shropshire had the initiative as the visitors found themselves 0-2 after six overs – James Hewitt playing onto his own stumps off Ted Bayliss and Chris Sandbach nicking one to Ed Foster at first slip off Jack Shantry.

It proved to be Shantry’s day as he took five wickets for the first time in his championship career.

Michael Barnard, just 18, also enjoyed his moment in the spotlight though, taking his first county wicket as he got Alex Jewell caught low down at gully by Andy Gray for 17.

Oxfordshire limped to lunch at 95-3 and then appeared to go into meltdown as five more wickets fell within 25 minutes, for the addition of just nine runs

Richard Kaufman nicked Shantry behind to wicketkeeper Anthony Parker for 19, and the prize wicket of Charlie Knightley went in the same fashion for 57.

Nathan Hawkes and Ian Hawtin followed them back to the changing room quickly and – at 104-8 – Oxfordshire looked in deep trouble.

They added 76 for the last two wickets though, with Jack Brooks and Francois Vainker hitting 36 each.

That at least earned them one batting point – and the total started to look competitive as Shropshire’s reply quickly turned sour.

Jono Whitney, Ed and Rob Foster and Richard Oliver all fell cheaply – though Rob could count himself unfortunate after being adjudged to have nicked one to Hawtin despite not appearing to get a touch.

It was left to James Ralph to rescue Shropshire and guide them towards respectability – and he responded with a true captain’s innings.

He reached 50 off just 48 balls with a dashing knock that included 11 fours and eventually fell for 71, caught behind to the first ball from James Hewitt.

He put on 73 with Andy Gray – and the Aussie went on to make his maiden championship 50 as well as Shropshire, with nine wickets down, went past Oxfordshire’s total in the last five minutes of the day’s play.

But there was one last twist as Gray then edged to Hawtin in the 112th over of an action-packed day to bring Shropshire’s innings to a close with the slenderest of leads.

By Chris Hudson