Shropshire v Hertfordshire in Minor Counties

In a little under a month's time, opportunity will knock for Shropshire's cricketers.

And there is a growing feeling that, after 37 barren years without silverware, they may just be ready to answer the call.

Three times Shropshire have reached the MCCA Trophy one-day final, three times they have suffered defeat.

But if Ed Foster's side can match their semi-final performance at Welwyn Garden City yesterday in the final at Durham's Riverside ground on August 11, there is every chance it could be fourth time lucky.

Their nail-biting victory over Hertfordshire was sealed with three balls remaining when Mark Downes bowled Nick Lamb, son of cricket administrator Tim, to clinch a 14-run success.

It brought to an end a thrilling duel which left Shropshire's players elated but emotionally and physically drained.

A bumper crowd would have had to travel a long way to witness a better semi-final. And how Shropshire deserved their victory - posting their biggest ever one-day score of 331-7 before defending it ferociously in perfect batting conditions and soaring temperatures.

Pressure

It was a day when there were Shropshire heroes aplenty.

Captain Foster - who elected to bat first in the hope of amassing a big total and applying semi-final scoreboard pressure - led from the front with a sublime century.

His 112 came off 119 balls - including 13 fours and a six - as he shared a 150-run partnership for the second wicket with Chris Murtagh after Jono Whitney had been unlucky to fall to a stunning catch at gully in the second over.

Shropshire's two key batsmen certainly laid the foundations, helping Shropshire reach 227-2 with 12 overs remaining, before the icing on the cake came with late cameos from Rob Foster - 64 off 37 balls - and Anthony Parker's 37 off 20 deliveries.

From that moment on, the pressure was piled on Hertfordshire and former First Class openers Jamie Hewitt and David Alleyne put their side further behind the rate, despite an opening stand of 85.

And when the inevitable assault came, Shropshire's bowlers - a line-up weakened when Adam Shimmons suffered a match-ending back injury midway through his sixth over - stood up to be counted as the pressure grew.

Recalled Downes rose to the occasion, conceding just 32 runs in his 10 overs on a day when he took the new ball before returning at the death to take the match-clinching wicket of Lamb.

And Dan Bowen, Jono Whitney, Rob Foster and Andy Gray all chipped in with vital wickets as bowlers were to forced by the conditions to play a support role.

There were times when Hertfordshire threatened to gain the momentum.

A rapid fourth wicket partnership of 79 off just seven overs from Eddie Ballard and Nick Walker left the hosts requiring just 113 off 13 overs with seven wickets in hand.

But the well-set pair fell in a three over spell which brought three wickets for Gray and Rob Foster before Whitney held his nerve to bowl Simon White and Will Rudge as the pressure grew.

Hertfordshire's hopes were ended when Bowen's straight bowling was rewarded with the wicket of James Southgate in the penultimate over for 29 before the celerbations began when Downes claimed the final scalp of Lamb.

It capped an afternoon which will live long in the memories of Shropshire's followers.

But they will be hoping an even more memorable - and historic - day is just around the corner.

By JAMES GARRISON