Joe Leach returns for Shropshire Minor Counties clash

Key allrounder Joe Leach will return to the Shropshire ranks for Sunday's big Minor Counties trophy showdown with Cheshire at Shifnal.

University commitments ruled Shrewsbury's Leach out of yesterday's 61-run defeat to Worcestershire in a special Twenty20 Challenge match at Wellington.

But he will return for Sunday's group one clash, in which victory will see Shropshire cement their place at the top of their qualifying group and guarantee a home quarter-final.

Leach's club-mate Dan Bowen will also return to the squad should he overcome a niggling injury.

Meanwhile, captain Ed Foster insisted there were positives to take from yesterday's defeat in what was Shropshire's first meeting with a First Class county for six years.

A late onslaught with the bat from Worcestershire's James Cameron took the game away from Shropshire, who in turn lost early wickets in their chase of 189.

"I didn't think we bowled as well as we could at times and they probably got 30 more than they should have done," said Foster.

"When we lost early wickets, it ended any realistic chance of us getting the runs.

"But we weren't out of our depth and there were things we can learn to take into Sunday."

The likely squad for Sunday is: Ed Foster (captain, Shrewsbury), Jono Whitney (Bridgnorth), Chris Murtagh (Reigate), Rob Foster, Joe Leach, Tom Cox (all Shrewsbury), James Ralph (Kidderminster), Anthony Parker (Shifnal), Mark Downes (Wellington), Andy Gray (Alvaston & Boulton), Jonty Mountford (Shifnal), Dan Bowen (Shrewsbury).

By JAMES GARRISON