Shropshire pipped by the new champions

The Cats had gone into the match, their last this season in the Minor Counties Championship Western Division, hunting a fourth straight win.

But they began the campaign by losing three of their first four completed matches, a run which saw them dumped out of the MCCA Trophy at the group stages. It also included two straight defeats in the Championship.

Foxall said: "As far as the season is concerned, from the start that we had it has been a fantastic turnaround. The players, the captain James Ralph and the coach should all be very pleased with themselves.

"To have won three matches in a row and then to have been in strong contention in the fourth one was a terrific performance, having been beaten so soundly in the first two games."

Foxall added: "It bodes well for the future. Our two professionals Gurman Randhawa and Ben Sanderson have both performed magnificently for us.

"But the young players have done well and they have shown that they can play at this level."

Wiltshire's victory, in a match badly affected by rain at Whitchurch Cricket Club, saw them clinch the Western Division title.

Shropshire had set a first innings total of 332 on day one, but after making 61-2 in reply on Sunday, rain limited play severely on day two.

Wiltshire later declared, and Shropshire forfeited their second innings in a bid to get a definitive result.

Needing a further 201 for victory, Wiltshire made 71-3 but did not get to resume on day three yesterday until 3.17pm because of rain.

Randhawa then wasted no time in removing Michael Coles (28) LBW for no further score.

But Neil Clark's unbeaten century, of 130 from 184 balls, helped fire the visitors to a winning score of 275-6 in the penultimate over.

Randawa finished with stats of 5-109.