Karl Krikken hails Joe Carrasco for match-saving Shropshire innings

Carrasco struck a defiant, unbeaten half century as the county just about held on for a draw after a nail-biting finale to their opening home game of the season in the Unicorns Championship against Herefordshire.

With visiting fielders crowding around the bat, Carrasco, who ended 55 not out, held his nerve to steer Shropshire to 226-9 at the 6.30pm cut off point after facing 135 balls and spending nearly two-and-a-quarter hours in the middle at Whitchurch.

With last man Dan Bowen watching on from the other end, Carrasco played out the final over from four-wicket Peter Burgoyne to ensure both teams emerged with 12 points, with Krikken quick to hail the contribution of the Oswestry batsman.

Krikken said: “I think Joe’s a very fine player. He’s played really well and he’s one for the future for Shropshire. I think he’ll go from strength to strength. He’s got a good technique and he’s very strong minded.”

But Krikken, whose side are next in action when they take on Oxfordshire at Shifnal, starting on July 2 added: “It should never have got that close really. We played some bad shots and made some bad decisions.

“It was a fine wicket, a very good wicket that Whitchurch had produced. We just needed to hold our bottle and we played some rash shots at various times. It was a nail-biter, but it should never have got to that stage really.”