Seb Scott’s maiden century for Shropshire helped the county sign off their season with victory over Dorset in the NCCA Cluberly Championship.
Roman Walker also played a starring role as Shropshire eventually emerged winners by 41 runs towards the end of the third and final day at Whitchurch. The in-form Walker took seven wickets in Dorset’s first innings, the third consecutive Western Division Two match in which he has claimed seven wickets or more in the first innings.
Shropshire captain Charlie Home, delighted to see Scott reach three figures, said: “It was a good win and it was set up on the first day by good batting, with Seb at the centre of that. After a successful three-day campaign for him personally, it was really nice for him to finish off with his first National Counties hundred.
“He played brilliantly. Some of the shots he played were fantastic. He hit the ball very hard and made it very difficult for the opposition to bowl at him. He just showed his class and how dominating he can be.
“I think his first hundred had been coming. He found some form in the first Championship match of the season at Cornwall when he batted for a long period of time in the second innings for 48. He’s not looked back since and has batted brilliantly.
“I’m very pleased for Seb as he works very hard and has become more and more of a regular for Shropshire over the last couple of seasons.”
On the latest outstanding contribution with the ball from Walker, Home added: “Roman bowled beautifully, just like he had in the last two games against Wales and Cheshire. It’s testament to Roman as in our three-day matches this season he has just kept bowling and bowling. He’s done everything he can to help us win the two games that we have.”
With Home electing to bat first on the opening morning after winning the toss, Shropshire, having been forced into a trio of late changes to their XI, responded by accumulating 323.
Wellington’s Ollie Smith and Eccleshall’s Matt Wright both made their Championship debuts, with Theo Wylie also returning to the side. They came in to replace Ben Roberts, Morgan Ward and Connor Marshall.
Openers Will Tarrant (52) and Harry Chandler (44) laid solid foundations for the hosts by putting on 74 for the first wicket.
Shrewsbury’s Scott, a consistent performer for the county this season, then took centre stage as, batting at four, he hit an excellent 114 from 142 balls, which included two sixes and 11 fours.
Walker (25) and Wright (24) also contributed, with the wickets shared between Josiah Edy (3-32), Mo Abbas (3-56) and Connor Smith (3-90).
Established a lead
Shropshire ended a productive first day by reducing Dorset to 47-4 at the close, with Walker taking all four wickets to fall, including two stunning diving full-length catches from Tarrant.
The visitors continued to find runs hard to come by on the second morning as they were dismissed for 98, with Walker taking 7-38 from 17.5 overs. George McCormick also bowled well to pick up 3-46 as Shropshire established a lead of 225 runs at the halfway stage.
Wem opener Chandler, another consistent performer for the county this season, top scored with 69 when Shropshire batted for a second time.
Chandler was eventually ninth man out after a determined knock as Shropshire, a precarious 52-6 at one stage, rallied to 149 all out. He received useful support from Joe Stanley (21) and Smith (20), as Matt Burton took 5-47.
That left Dorset a victory target of 375 and, led by a fourth-wicket partnership of 148 between Ralph Dunne and Jay Terry, they chased well.
Tarrant eventually broke the partnership when he bowled Terry for 87, but teenager Dunne went on hit 102 from 219 balls, with 15 fours, before he was trapped lbw by Wylie.
Abbas struck an unbeaten 52, but Shropshire kept picking up wickets as Dorset were bowled out for 333 in the 113th over of their innings. Tarrant (2-20), Smith (2-45), Wright (2-52) and Walker (2-66) – he ended with match figures of 9-104 – all played their part with the ball.
It completed a second Championship win of the season for Shropshire following victory over Wales at Bridgnorth.
Shropshire also drew at Cheshire after starting their three-day campaign with defeat at Cornwall, the promoted table-toppers who have sealed an automatic return to Western Division One.
“It was a great way to end,” added captain Home. “Dorset are a good side and we really had to work hard on the final day.
“Dorset were chasing a mammoth target, but we carried on digging in, battling away and managed to get over the line. It was a tight game in the end, which made it even more enjoyable.”
Pictured: Seb Scott struck 114 in Shropshire’s first innings against Dorset as he reached three figures for the county for the first time.