Joe Clarke hits Shropshire towards Counties win

But Shropshire captain Richard Oliver warned against complacency as his men resumed this morning 170 runs ahead of their visitors, with all their second innings wickets intact.

Clarke, 17, came within three runs of a maiden county century as the Cats' set an imposing total of 271. Three-wicket hauls from bowlers Jonathan Miles and Elliot Green then helped dismiss Dorset for 129.

Oliver, whose side appear well-placed to maintain their 100 per cent record in all competitions this term, hailed the 175-run third-wicket partnership of Clarke and Steve Leach as "sensational".

He added: "We set high standards for ourselves and I felt we should have batted our 90 overs for about 325, which we didn't do.

"But we bowled quite well and they didn't bat very well. We don't want to get complacent but we are going into the last day well on top and that is a good position to be in."

Leach and Clarke, who at 16 last summer became the youngest player, steered Shropshire from an overnight 25-2 total to 173-2 at lunch and for 78 soon after the restart.

Whitchurch captain Omar Ali later added 46 off 41 balls. The all-rounder, playing his last game for the county, was eventually caught and bowled by Lintott for a useful 27.

Dorset were soon in trouble with Miles firing a direct hit onto the stumps from fine leg to run out opening bat Lewis McManus for a duck.

Ben Sanderson marked his Championship debut by having Lintott caught behind.

Mansoor Khan (29) and Michael Porter (27) offered some brief resistance, but Dan Bowen and Green removed the Dorset No 3.

Then Miles struck as the visitors lost four wickets for one run on route to being dismissed for 129.