Professional Andy Gray underlined his importance to Shropshire’s Minor Counties Championship challenge on a dramatic day two against Herefordshire at Eastnor.

Some 18 wickets fell yesterday as the game moved swiftly towards a conclusion, despite over half of the opening day’s play being lost to rain.

But just who will be celebrating victory in the opening three-day game of the season was left firmly in the balance, with Shropshire opening up a 139-run lead with three second innings wickets in hand.

That the visitors remain in touch owed much to Gray who took six wickets to ensure Shropshire enjoyed a narrow first innings lead.

Resuming on 200-9, Shropshire soon found themselves in the field with Matt Tilt bowled by Andy Sutton off the third ball of the day for the addition of just two runs.

And when Harshad Patel and Ben Stebbings put on 42 for the first wicket, it appeared life could be difficult for James Ralph’s side.

But the breakthrough came when Steve Taylor had Patel caught in the gully by Atiq Chishti for 12 before the spinners got to work.

Former Derbyshire man Gray took the lead role by dismissing Stebbings for 39 and Henry Langford cheaply, while skipper Ralph bowled Dan Bassett for 11 as Herefordshire were reduced to 80-4.

Taylor then dismissed Bridgnorth’s David Exall while Gray claimed a further two scalps as 111-4 became 118-7.

But an unbeaten 56 from skipper Chris Boroughs helped guide Herefordshire out of trouble and, despite two more wickets for Gray and one for Ralph, the Cidermen managed to get up to 186 and within 16 of the visitors.

Jono Whitney fell early as Shropshire set about building on their advantage, while Gray and Rob Foster both went for 17.

At 100-3, Shropshire looked well placed but a collapse in the last hour dragged Herefordshire back into contention.

Rudge dismissed Chisti for 23 and then followed up with the wickets of Ralph and Bruce Thomason.

Charlie Griffiths also bowled Richard Oliver as four wickets fell for 16 off 26 balls.

Taylor and Anthony Parker steered Shropshire through to the close without any further damage at 123-7, but the late flurry of wickets had left both sides sensing victory in a match which has continued to ebb and flow.

By JAMES GARRISON