A marathon effort from a ‘holy trinity’ of bowlers helped Shropshire gain the early initiative in their Minor Counties Championship clash with Wales at Bridgnorth.

Seamers Steve Taylor and Jack Shantry and spinner Andy Gray bowled 77 of their team’s 90 overs between them as they restricted Wales to 324-7 off their 90 overs.

And there was enough time for Shropshire to make significant in-roads into that total, an unbeaten half century from Ed Foster helping the hosts reach 75-0 at the close.

That represented an im pressive performance from the light-on-bowling hosts, who must have feared the worst when a Wales side packed with eight members of Glamorgan’s playing staff won the toss and set about compiling an imposing total on a flat pitch and fast scoring ground.

There will have been a tinge of regret that Wales managed to exceed 300 after finding themselves 129-5 at one stage.

But even allowing for the lower-order recovery, Shropshire would have left the field delighted with their work on the opening day.

Much of that was down to Taylor, Gray and Shantry who toiled away throughout an overcast day and made timely interventions to give Shropshire a lift.

Taylor provided the double early breakthrough, having the benefit of a questionable leg before decision to rid of Gareth Rees before bowling Huw Waters to reduce Wales to 30-2.

At the other end, Jack Shantry was producing a unchanged 20 over spell and, while William Bragg and Tom Merilaht set about repairing the early damage, the left arm seamer’s deserved wicket came shortly before rain brought an early lunch. He forced Merilaht to guide an away swinger to James Ralph at third slip and Wales were reduced to 89-3.

Gray and Taylor then struck in an eight over spell shortly after the interval to dismiss Bragg and Dan Roberts to leave Wales in trouble.

But Adam Harrison and Sam Davies led a counter-attack to haul their back into the game with a sixth wicket partnership of 98.

Davies lofted Gray for two big sixes to the Cricket Meadow end before the spinner made the vital breakthrough, Harrison gloving a leg side delivery into the gloves of wicket-keeper Matt Tilt.

Davies’ hopes of a century ended when he lofted a Shantry delivery straight down the throat of Atiq Chishti for 78, as Shropshire gained a seventh wicket.

Oliver James’ unbeaten 49 helped the visitors pass 300, although their hopes of earning maximum batting points at 325 were ruined in the final over from Shantry as they failed to put bat on ball and achieve the four runs they required.

That left both teams with three first innings bonus points, but Shropshire gained the upper hand when Foster and Andy Gray negotiated the final 18 overs before bad light ended play 10 minutes early.

Foster looked in fine nick in racing to 52 with a boundary off the final ball of the day.

And while Gray had a few fortunate escapes – including being bowled off a no ball from Chris Ashling – he was crucially still there at the close unbeaten on 16.

By JAMES GARRISON