Shropshire will be seeking a positive response when they resume their NCCA Cluberly Championship campaign later this month after opening their three-day season with a nine-wicket defeat against Cornwall.
Cornwall wrapped up victory in the Western Division Two match before lunch on the third and final day at Truro.
Shropshire had resumed on 144-4 – trailing the home side by 29 runs – with spinner Ellis Whiteford (5-15) quickly taking five of the last six wickets to fall as Shropshire were dismissed for 191.
That left Cornwall requiring just 19 to win in their second innings and, despite an early wicket from Joe Stanley, they soon progressed to 21-1 to complete victory.
Helped by a century from Will MacVicar, Cornwall had taken control of the game on day two after establishing a 173 run advantage at the halfway stage.
“We lost first and foremost to a very good Cornwall side,” said Shropshire captain Charlie Home. “They had most bases covered. They had a very good left-arm spinner and a couple of class batters.
“Having won the toss and batted, there were probably a few cheap dismissals early on, and from there we were behind the eight ball sadly and never managed to get back in front.
“Getting 188 on that pitch in our first innings was a bit short. We got ourselves back into a decent position with some very good bowling at the end of day one from Ben Roberts, who picked up three wickets very quickly in one spell.
“Cornwall were 125-5 overnight, but they then had a brilliant partnership on the second day which completely killed the game and took it away from us.
“We showed some real fight in our second innings on Monday afternoon. We sadly lost a wicket to the last ball of the day to be 144-4 overnight when it looked like we were going to be three down, with Seb Scott batting very nicely.”
Home added “there’s plenty to build on” as Shropshire’s focus now turns to their second Championship match of the season against Wales, which starts at Bridgnorth on Sunday, July 26.
“We’ve got good availability for the next game, so we’ll be all right,” said Home. “It’s a good opportunity to turn things round at Bridgnorth.”
Best partnership
Having elected to bat on the opening day, Shropshire were reduced to 91-6 just after lunch.
Then came the best partnership of the innings, 57 for the seventh wicket, as fit-again skipper Home, batting for Shropshire for the first time this season, made 43, and was joined in the middle by Roman Walker.
Making his National Counties Championship debut for Shropshire, Walker top scored with 61 from 83 balls, which included a six and eight fours, as he helped lift the Shropshire total up to 188.
Tom Fell had earlier made 25, with spinner Elliot Hooper the pick of the Cornwall attack with 5-45 from 21 overs. Ben Ellis (2-19) and MacVicar (2-58) also played their part with the ball.
Cornwall, in reply, were going well at 80-1 until three quick wickets from Shifnal seamer Roberts pegged them back as they eventually closed day one on 125-5.
MacVicar and captain Paul Smith batted Cornwall into a strong position the following morning with a sixth-wicket partnership of 156.
Home eventually ended it when he removed MacVicar for a fine 111, which came from 183 balls and featured 11 boundaries.
Home also claimed the wicket of Smith for 85, but Hooper (41) and Bryn Evans (31) kept the scoreboard ticking over for Cornwall, adding to the earlier efforts of opener Karl Leathley (39), as the hosts were dismissed for 361.
Roberts took 3-77 and Home 2-52, while Theo Wylie (2-41) also enjoyed some success for the ball.
Trailing by 173 runs at the halfway stage, Shropshire made inroads ahead of closing the second day on 144-4.
Shrewsbury batter Scott was out to the final ball of the day for a patient and determined 48 after earlier putting on 73 for the third wicket with Tom Fell (30), followed by 50 for the fourth wicket with captain Home (31).
Wickets fell regularly on the final morning as Whiteford inflicted much of the damage, including trapping Ben Lees lbw for 28, as Cornwall completed victory.
Pictured: Truro Cricket Club was the venue for Shropshire’s NCCA Championship match against Cornwall.