Shropshire in pole position for championship
Chairman of selectors Brian Foxall hailed Shropshire after victory at Oxfordshire moved them to the Minor Counties Championship Western Division summit.
Despite toiling for over 100 overs in the field in sweltering heat as the hosts offered stout resistance at Banbury, Richard Oliver's men kept their nerve to pass their winning target of 244 runs in the 57th over.
They recovered from a second innings batting wobble thanks to a unbeaten 93 from Bridgnorth's James Ralph and 44 from Shifnal debutant Tom Home. Wicketkeeper Anthony Parker also thrashed 43 to help Shropshire to their third consecutive Championship triumph of the summer.
Earlier in the afternoon they had slumped to 70-4 after home skipper Chad Keegan picked up three quick wickets.
"We had to fight through it as we didn't play well for the whole game," admitted Foxall. "We had a couple of hours on Monday night and Tuesday morning when we looked tired.
"But we took the new ball and that enabled us to finish Oxfordshire off (401 all out) before lunch. We knew that would give us enough time to get the runs."
Ralph followed up his first innings 124 with another stylish knock and struck up a match-winning partnership with Home.
Foxall lavished praise on the 37-year-old and Home, 22, who was a late inclusion in the three-day squad.
"It was a magnificent contribution from James and Tom produced a terrific innings as well. It's a real bonus to know that if we need to play him again we would have no qualms about putting him in."
Shropshire have reeled off eight straight wins and are two points clear of Cheshire, who they play at Nantwich next month, and Wales.
They are targeting two trophies, with Sunday's trip to Harpenden to face Hertfordshire in the semi-final of the MCCA Trophy their next priority.
Shropshire v Oxfordshire - match report
