Shropshire overcame a below-par batting display to gain the upper hand over Dorset as 16 wickets fell on a dramatic opening day at Bournemouth.

The visitors hopes in the must-win Minor Counties Championship clash appeared to be over as they were skittled for just 158 after winning the toss and electing to bat first on a sunny morning.

But a sterling fightback with the ball – in conditions offering seam movement throughout the day on a pitch difficult for scoring – saw Dorset reduced to 51-6 at the close.

Shropshire’s hopes of a recovery received an early boost with Ted Baylis immediately reduced the hosts to 1-2, Ed Foster taking a smart catch at first slip to dismiss Nick Park before Aaron Williams followed swiftly after with neither troubling the scorers.

Steve Taylor then followed the lead set by his new ball partner with a brace of quick wickets of his own.

Simon Watkins became the third Dorset player to register a duck when he was bowled by the St Georges seamer, before opener Glyn Treagus was trapped leg before by Taylor for 12.

And when Baylis claimed his third wicket as captain James Ralph took a catch to account for his opposite number Tom Hicks, Dorset were reduced to 24-5.

Nick Baker then dug in to reach 19 not out having faced 100 balls in more than two hours by the close, but there was further Shropshire success when Mike Barnard had Matthew Metcalfe caught by his Shrewsbury team-mate Foster for 10.

That Shropshire should find themselves in the box seat by the close represented a major turnaround after they soon found trouble with the bat.

Metcalfe did much of the early damage, having Foster, Andy Gray and Bruce Thomason caught as Shropshire were reduced to 44-3.

And things got worse when Richard Oliver fell for 28, Atiq Chisthi went without scoring and Ralph fell victim to an in-swinging yorker from England under-19 bowler David Payne.

That left Shropshire 86-6 before Jono Whitney and Matt Tilt steadied the ship somewhat with a partnership of 38.

Whitney top scored with 29 before being well out of his crease when stumped by Simon Ridley from the off-spin of Hicks, while Tilt passed 1,000 Championship runs before becoming Metcalfe’s fourth victim for 20.

Baylis and Taylor – who scored 12 and 19 respectively – mustered some vital late runs but it was the duo’s performance with the ball in the final session which kept the visitors in contention.

By JAMES GARRISON