Bryan Jones delighted with Shropshire victory
Chairman of selectors Bryan Jones insisted Shropshire could not have hoped for a better start to their Unicorns Championship campaign after skittling Cheshire for just 89 to seal victory by 166 runs.
Oswestry all-rounder Warrick Fynn and former Middlesex seamer Gurjit Sandhu shared seven wickets between them before lunch on the final day at sweltering Shifnal. Then Bridgnorth leg spinner Sam Whitney got in in the act with three quick wickets afterwards to wrap up an excellent win.
It was quite a turnaround given Shropshire had trailed by 70 runs at the halfway stage, but a century from captain Steve Leach helped them recover on day two ahead of an inspired bowling display.
“That’s as good a performance, I guess, from a 70-run deficit that you could hope for,” said Jones. “We got on top but I don’t think anybody would have called it that we would bowl them out for 89.
“Having said that, we showed a lot of character and application to get back in the game on the second afternoon with Steve’s hundred and two or three partnerships under pressure that gradually broke them down. “
The captain made a good call in opening with Warrick, the left-armer, with a bit of help from the wicket, bowling into some rough, and Gurjit bowled fantastically, probably the best I’ve seen him bowl for Shropshire.
“He bowled with good pace, intimidating. He bowled in the right areas and we never looked back.”
