Mixed opening for Shropshire in the Minor Counties
Shropshire's cricketers were today hoping to make early inroads to seize the initiative in their Minor Counties Championship game with Dorset at Bridgnorth. Shropshire's cricketers were today hoping to make early inroads to seize the initiative in their Minor Counties Championship game with Dorset at Bridgnorth. The visitors were resuming this morning on 100-2 in reply to Shropshire's first innings score of 327 all out. Skipper Ed Foster led the way with the bat yesterday making 115. That was his second century in as many days after he also reached the landmark in Shrewsbury's Birmingham League premier division victory over Wellington 24 hours earlier. Andy Gray then took two wickets in the final half hour last night to keep western division leaders Shropshire in contention.
Shropshire's cricketers were forced to settle for a share of the honours after a mixed opening to their Minor Counties Championship game with Dorset at Bridgnorth.
Having won the toss, Ed Foster's side looked well placed to pile on the runs after reaching 206-1 in the 56th over.
But Foster's departure for an excellent 115 sparked something of a collapse which saw the hosts bowled out for 327 in the last of their 90 overs.
Dorset reached 100-2 by the close.
"It was a bit disappointing," said captain Foster.
"Bridgnorth is a notoriously good batting pitch and a fast scoring ground and nothing is different this time.
"From the position we were in, we should have been looking for 400 and I think we were about 100 short.
"There was some pretty naive batting and it means we are going to have to work really hard for the rest of the game to try and get on top."
Shropshire couldn't have asked for a better start with Foster and Alex Huxley putting on 102 for the first wicket.
Huxley was trapped by Glyn Treagus for 37 but Foster and professional Chris Murtagh put the home side in a position of strength as the afternoon progressed.
Foster's sparkling innings — which came off 162 balls and included 14 fours and four sixes — came to an end with score on 206, and Matt Metcalfe claimed three wickets — including the vital one of Murtagh for 74.
Wickets then fell in regular intervals and, while Shropshire creeped past 325 to secure a maximum four batting bonus points — there was a feeling they had failed to cash in on their start.
Nick Park and Chris Morgan got Dorset off to a solid start with a first wicket partnership of 92, Dan Bowen unfortunate not to gain any reward for a good opening spell.
But the game swung back towards Shropshire when Andy Gray took two late wickets thanks to brilliant fielding from Rob Foster. A stunning catch at mid-wicket accounted for Morgan before a claimed another smart chance at leg slip to account for Park.