Ralph hails 'satisfying' success

James Ralph today hailed the spirit of Shropshire's cock-a-hoop cricketers after a memorable Minor Counties triumph put them in Championship contention.

Shropshire claimed the scalp of a strong Wales team at Bridgnorth when a gripping three days of action came to a nail-biting conclusion.

The hosts registered a two-wicket success after successfully chasing 300 – with officials reckoning that was the first time in recent years their team have chased such a total in the fourth innings.

It leaves Shropshire in third place in the Western Division table, just five points behind leaders Cheshire – who Shropshire are due to meet at Whitchurch in the last of their six matches.

"It was probably one of the most satisfying wins I have been involved in because we fought so well as a team," said Ralph. "There were no declarations involved in the game and we had to fight for every wicket against a lot of players who have played First Class cricket.

"We only had three front line bowlers (Steve Taylor, Andy Gray and Jack Shantry) and there were stages in both their innings where the game could have got away from us.

"But we bowled good areas and stuck at it in the field and then to chase 300 was a great effort.

"We are a young side and confidence probably wasn't that high with the bat because we haven't done that well in the one-day games or in the first Championship match at Herefordshire.

To chase that yesterday, albeit on a good pitch like Bridgnorth, was a very good effort."

Shropshire will now attempt to remain in the hunt for the title when they entertain Devon at Shifnal in a game which starts on Sunday week.

But already there are concerns that their bid could be hit by unavailability problems, with fears that Shantry, Taylor and Matt Tilt could all miss Shropshire's third game of the season.

By JAMES GARRISON