Shropshire's focus turns to NCCA T20 competition after trophy exit at Suffolk
Shropshire's focus quickly turns to the National Counties Twenty20 competition after their final group match in this season's NV Play One Day Trophy ended in defeat by seven wickets at Suffolk.
Skipper Tom Fell and Worfield's Harris Ajaz, who was making his Shropshire debut, both impressed with the bat as Shropshire were bowled out for 233.
Suffolk then chased well to progress to 234-3, but they, like Shropshire, will also exit the 50-over competition at the group stage, with Cheshire and Cumbria, having both won all three of their games, advancing to the quarter-finals from Group One.
Dave Cartledge, Shropshire's team manager, said: "It's not what we wanted. We would have loved to have qualified, but at the of the day you look at it and we've won one and lost three.
"There's been some really good individual performances, and I think it's just a matter of knowing what's required at the right time.
"Everything in cricket is about the next ball and the next ball is the T20 competition. It's different again. It's very quick, everything is happening in front of you, so it will be interesting to see how we deal with it, so we're looking forward to it."
Shropshire elected to bat at Sudbury after Fell won the toss and, after being 76-2, a flurry of wickets saw them slip to 93-7 in the 21st over.
Fell was then joined in the middle by Ajaz and they led a revival by building an eighth wicket partnership of 89, which ended when Fell headed back to the pavilion for a fine 88 from 71 balls, which included three sixes and 11 fours.
Ajaz went on to make an unbeaten 52 from 67 deliveries, with a six and five fours, as he received good support down the order from Ben Roberts and George McCormick to register an impressive half century, with Shropshire eventually dismissed from 47.2 overs.
Jack Beaumont took 3-56 for Suffolk while Darren Ironside (2-23), Dan Shanks (2-40) and James Bridges (2-44) were also among the wickets.
Suffolk, in reply, started brightly with former Essex batter Feroze Khushi (26) and Beaumont (25) both contributing.
Then Ironside (76 not out) and Ollie Burle (70) combined to put on 137 for the third wicket to set Suffolk well on their way to sealing victory from the first ball of the 44th over.
Spinner Joe Stanley (2-61) and seamer Roberts (1-19) were Shropshire's wicket-takers, while McCormick, making his first appearance of the season, bowled eight economical overs for 0-23.
"We had a bad half an hour when we batted," added Cartledge. "Tom and Harris then put on a good partnership which helped us get a respectable score in the end.
"It was a really good innings by Tom. You're looking to Tom to lead the batting and he really did. Harris batted well and also bowled well.
"Clark Haddrell bowled well when he came back for his second spell. George came in and bowled a really good spell. He was hard to get away and the most economical of the bowlers, while Ben also did well.
"I thought we bowled well, but Suffolk knew what they had to do and played well."
Shropshire will return to action on Sunday, May 24 when they begin their NCCA T20 campaign with two matches against Cheshire at Didsbury Cricket Club.
They will also play group fixtures against Staffordshire, Cumbria and Northumberland in the competition.
