Shropshire county cricket suffer batting collapse

Never judge a first innings score until both teams have batted, goes the old adage, writes James Garrison.

And rarely has that rung truer than on a remarkable day at Whitchurch.

Shropshire had appeared to seize the initative of the final Minor Counties Championship clash of the season against Devon with a stirring fightback in the field to dismiss the visitors for 156.

But no sooner had they wrestled the advantage than they surrended it with a spectacular batting collapse.

Shropshire slumped to 27-7 and 35-8 before an unbroken ninth wicket stand of 42 between captain Ed Foster and Elliot Green ensured further damage was prevented in the closing 40 minutes.

In mitigation, seamer-friendly conditions prevailed throughout a humid and cloudy day while there were occasional instances of uneven bounce.

But only James Ralph – who became one of five victims for Devon seamer Trevor Anning – could claim to have been undone by the bowling, his delivery keeping low.

No, this was an inept batting display from Shropshire in which loose shots were all too commonplace as five players perished to catches behind the stumps.

Loose shots were the order of the day leaving captain Ed Foster a far from impressed observer at the non-striker’s end.

Foster rode his luck on occasion but proved what could be achieved with application as he reached the close unbeaten on 36.

Green also dug deep to end a day which was reduced by 23 overs due to the weather, unbeaten on 16.

The batting collapse was ill-timed, not least because it took the gloss off inspired bowling displays from debutant Ed Barnard and Richard Oliver.

Devon had looked set to compile a large total as they reached 90-1 before Barnard’s introduction.

But the Shrewsbury 16-year-old claimed wickets in successive overs to give Shropshire a foothold back in the game.

He had dangerman Rob Holman caught behind by Anthony Parker for 38 before clipping the off-stump of David Lye. Barnard later returned to mop up the tail while, in between, Oliver recorded his best Minor Counties figures.

Nothing more than an occasional seamer, Oliver was clearly fired up and inspired by his return to his old home before his winter move to London and transfer to Reigate Priory.

He got just enough movement to prove problematic and three leg before decisions and two leg side catches to Parker left him with figures of 5-11 to sit alongside’s Barnard’s 4-18.

But that good work was undone inside 13 overs with the bat and left Shropshire chasing the game they appeared to be controlling just three hours earlier.