Shropshire target 'at least one win' to progress in Twenty20 Cup

Shropshire are targeting progress in the National Counties Twenty20 Cup ahead of completing their group fixtures in the competition against Northumberland at Wellington on Sunday.

Four wins from six games so far this season, including victory in their double-header at Cumbria last weekend, has Shropshire currently in second place in the Group One table.

The top three sides in the five-team group qualify for the Super 12s stage of the competition. Admission is free for spectators at Wellington, with Sunday's two T20 matches at Orleton Park starting at 11am and 2.30pm.

Ed Ashlin, Shropshire's first-team coach, said: "Staffordshire, the leaders of our group, have now qualified after their two wins last weekend.

"Northumberland are third and have played two games less than us, and we know that they're a very good white-ball outfit as well.

"If we can get at least one win, I think we should be definitely through, but we want to try and finish as high as possible because that gives you the opportunity of having a home tie if you top the group, so that's still the aim.

"Hopefully we can win both games and then see where that takes us.”

Ashlin was impressed with Shropshire's efforts as they strengthened their qualification hopes with two fine performances against Cumbria at Cockermouth last Sunday.

Off-spinning all-rounder Joe Stanley ended with combined match figures of 5-30 from his eight overs across the two matches as Shropshire won twice.

Ashlin added: "I think maybe Joe continues to go under the radar a little bit, but not certainly within the side and the coaching team.

“He's been probably our most consistent performer across all formats over a number of years now. His competitive nature, his will to win, is great, and we love that.

"It was another very good performance from him against Cumbria. He bowled well in the powerplay and he got Freddie Fallows out twice, who is one of Cumbria's danger men in this format.”

Shropshire will again select from 12 against Northumberland, with two changes to the squad on duty against Cumbria.

Batter Andre Bradford, who will also keep wicket, and former Derbyshire all-rounder Connor Marshall replace Morgan Ward and Sam Wisniewski.

Shropshire, from: Joe Johnson (Shifnal), Sahal Malvernkar (Milford Hall), Tom Fell (Shifnal, captain), Theo Wylie (Milford Hall), Connor Marshall (Sandiacre Town), Finn Jones (Shrewsbury), Andre Bradford (Hallam), Joe Stanley (Wolverhampton), Ben Roberts (Shifnal), Ollie Smith (Wellington), George McCormick (Bowdon), Seb Scott (Shrewsbury).