Shropshire CCC clinch emphatic win over Cheshire

Set a victory target of 256, Cheshire were quickly reduced to 55-7. There was to be no way back, with Shropshire – who will meet Cheshire again on Sunday, this time in the Unicorns Trophy semi-final at Bridgnorth – completing victory less than 20 minutes after lunch at Shifnal.

Shropshire had started the third and final day with a lead of 226 runs. Last wicket pair Gurjit Sandhu and Jack Twigger managed to add a further 29 runs to Shropshire’s overnight score before Sandhu (23) became Wayne White’s fourth victim of the innings to leave the hosts 325 all out.

Sandhu (3-38) made early inroads into Cheshire’s top order by grabbing three quick wickets. He bowled openers Danny Leech, the visiting skipper, and Calum Rowe cheaply before trapping Furqin Shafiq lbw first ball to reduce Cheshire to 16-3.

Left-arm spinner Warrick Fynn (4-42) then got in on the act by taking the next four wickets to fall before lunch as Shropshire sparkled in the sunshine.

Rick Moore was Fynn’s first victim, caught by Sandhu at slip for five. Then the same combination teamed up to get rid of former Derbyshire and Leicestershire all-rounder White for 14.

There was just no stopping Fynn – and Shropshire – with Sam Perry next to go, falling to a sharp catch from Omar Ali.

Cheshire were soon in real trouble at 55-7 when Simon Normanton, who made 91 in the first innings, fell to a straight forward catch from Steve Leach.

Sam Whitney then took centre stage after lunch as Cheshire were dismissed for 89 inside 29 overs.

Fynn held a catch to remove Gaz Burns, Will Evans holed out to Alexei Kervezee for a top score of 25, with victory completed when Twigger took a catch to remove Ben Aitchison. Whitney ended with figures of 3-7 from 2.4 overs, with his impact hailed by chairman of selectors Bryan Jones.

“I think a leg spinner on a turning wicket on the third day is always going to be a threat,” he said. “That’s exactly why we’ve got him in the team. He very rarely bowls any bad balls and you’re always in the game with a leg spinner that can pitch it accurately and test the opposition batsmen.

“It was a complete performance as we caught some good catches and everybody’s contributed again. We couldn’t have asked for a better start in the Championship. It’s important you win your first game to get up and running. We’ll keep our feet on the ground, but what it has done is set a standard of where we want to be and we shouldn’t go below that.”

Shropshire now looking forward to facing Cheshire again this weekend.

“There’s a long way to go and the two competitions we’re in are very difficult to win,” added Jones. “We know that, but from preparation and planning and where we wanted to be at this stage, I suppose we’re right there, so it’s very pleasing.

“Big credit to the players as they’re trying really hard and it’s going to plan.”