Cricket captain Richard Oliver predicts bright future for Shropshire
Captain Richard Oliver today predicted Shropshire's double end-of-season heartbreak will "light the fire" for future glory after a painful loss to Berkshire in the Minor Counties Trophy final.
Shropshire lost by 128 runs in yesterday one-day showpiece as Wormsley to add 50-over disappointment to their three-day frustrations.
Oliver's side won their four 10 matches across two competitions to spark hope of the Minor Counties Championship and one-day double.
But they lost to Berkshire and drew with Cheshire to slide to third in the Western Division of the Championship before defeat in yesterday's final.
"The last few weeks should strengthen us because we have learned a lot," said Oliver, whose side were dismissed for 156 yesterday in reply to Berkshire's 284-9.
"Unavailability has been a big issue through injury more than anything.
"It's been hard that in the time of the season we wanted to ramp it up and peak the wheels have come off a little bit and we've run out of steam.
"But looking forward to next season I'm hoping this will light the fire for where we want to be in the future.
"We've got a very good side and a very good bunch of people in and around the dressing room. We should be quite excited about what we could achieve."
Shropshire looked set to push Berkshire close at 65-0 and 127-3 in their reply but they lost five wickets for eight runs to slump to 135-8 and were eventually beaten in the 40th over.
Oliver said: "I can take the disappointment of losing this game because we were outplayed.
"What is harder to take is that we've played so well for so long this season and we're coming out of it with nothing.
"That is the hardest pill to swallow and we have missed an opportunity this season.
"We had two losses and a draw to finish so it will go down as a season of what might have been. But we gave it a good crack and we can't look back with too much disappointment."
Meanwhile, Shropshire today paid tribute to Jono Whitney after the all-rounder bowed out following 10 years with the county. Whitney is emigrating to Australia later this year and played his final match yesterday.
Captain Richard Oliver said: "For 10 years Jono has given up so much time.
"He's been so consistent over the years and I just take my hat off to him."
Chairman Toby Shaw added: "It was a sad day for him but we shouldn't lose sight of what a wonderful servant he's been."
