Shropshire’s one-day cricket season goes on the line tomorrow as they face a winner-takes-all showdown with Oxfordshire.

James Ralph’s team travel to Challow & Childrey for their final pool match in group one.

Shropshire are currently in the second of two qualifying positions in group one, on the same points as Oxfordshire but ahead on run-rate.

But, with the weather seemingly set fair, it appears tomorrow’s winners will join current table-toppers Bedfordshire in the last eight.

And captain Ralph believes his squad deserves credit for being in this position after losing the opening game to Bedfordshire at Shrewsbury.

“We were drawn in a tough group anyway but when you lose your first game, you think that you have a mountain to climb and the chance may have gone,” he said.

“But credit to the players because we travelled a long way to Cumberland and got a good win up there and then managed to play a reduced game against Cheshire and won that.

“It’s effectively a knockout game now and I think we have probably got the strongest squad of the season available.”

Dropping

The Shropshire ranks are boosted by the return of Rob Foster and Duncan Catterall, with Michael Barnard and Adam Shimmons dropping out of the squad which beat Cheshire last time out.

And Ralph is hopeful his side can get the victory which would take them just two successes away from a final at Durham’s Riverside game.

“Oxfordshire have got some good players and it’s going to be tough,” he added.

“The reports I’ve heard are that both Cheshire and Cumberland thought they were odds on to win their games against Oxfordshire but they have managed to pull it out of the bag.

“Hopefully we can perform well and things can go our way on the day.

“We would go through if it rained but we want to go through as of right.

“Let’s have a full day’s play and make the best team win.”

Tomorrow’s 50-overs per side encounter gets underway at 11am.