Brothers make Shropshire cricket history

Shropshire's cricketers were today battling to force their way back into their crucial Minor Counties Championship clash at Dorset – with the help of their historic brothers in arms.

The appearance in the side of Ed and Rob Foster and Joe and Stephen Leach for the Western Division clash at Dean Park in Bournemouth meant two sets of brothers appeared in a Shropshire team for the first time.

The quartet all represent Shrewsbury and were today aiming to help the visitors, currently joint-top of the table with Cornwall, battle their way back into contention after a first day dominated by the hosts.

The home side racked up 404-4 before declaring with one of their maximum 90 overs remaining, before Shropshire reached 49-0 at the close.

Two wickets for Joe Leach helped reduce Dorset to 98-2 before centurions Chris Jones and Aaron Williams took the game away from the visitors.

The pair shared a third-wicket stand of 240 before Chris Whelan, on his return from a one-match suspension, had Jones caught at deep backward square leg by Rob Foster for 175.

Shrewsbury's Dan Bowen accounted for Darren Cowley without scoring but Shropshire were denied a second bowling bonus point for a fifth wicket, largely because of the determined Williams, who ended unbeaten on 124.

Shropshire placed the emphasis on not losing a wicket in the 19 overs they had to face before the close, a mission they achieved with Ed Foster ending unbeaten on 31 and Steve Leach, who survived a chance to finish on 11, to take the score to 49-0.

But that still left them with plenty of batting to do in their remaining 71 overs today to ensure they remain in touch with Dorset at the end of the first innings.