Following their win against Herefordshire at Shifnal, Shropshire travelled to Truro with high hopes of a second Championship victory. They made three changes to the team, with a fit again Ted Bayliss, Jonty Mountford and Mark Robinson replacing Adam Shimmons, Martin Davies and Jack Shantry, whilst Wellington batsman Simon harding made his county debut at the expense of Richard Oliver.

Jamie Ralph won the toss and asked Cornwall to bat, a decision that was immediately vindicated as Mountford and Steve Taylor accounted for both openers with the score on 20. Former Somerset all rounder keith Parsons was caught behind off Ted Bayliss but Anthony Angove (51), skipper Tom Sharp (53), Chris Hunkin (38) and Alex Smeeth (50) ensured a reasonable Cornish total of 290, whilst there was a late flourish from Rob Harrison (46). Steve Taylor (3 for 56) and Andy Gray (3 for 71) were the pick of the bowlers, but the fielding was lack lustre apart from Anthony Parker, who snaffled 5 victims behind the stumps.

The Shropshire reply started badly with the wickets of Maunders, Whitney and Harding (run out without facing a ball on debut) and Parker all falling before the close of play, which Shropshire reached on 98 for 4. On the second morning Atiq Rehman (75) and Jamie Ralph (68) added 117 for the 5th wicket, with Ralph in particularly impressive form, but the last 5 wickets fell for 45 to leave the visitors on 250, trailing by 40.

Gary Thomas was soon snared by Ted Bayliss, but at 95 for 1, Cornwall were well in control. However, the session after tea changed all that as Cornwall collapsed to 151 for 9 at the close, thanks to some magnificent bowling by Andy Gray, who took 8 wickets in the session. Only Angove, with a gritty 66, looked at ease.

The Cornwall innings closed 8 balls into the third day, with Gray taking the last wicket, to finish with 9 for 56, the best figures in a single innings by a Shropshire bowler in the Championship. Needing 198 to win, Maunders and Whitney (38) put on 47 for the first wicket, but Rob Harrison (6 for 65) and Tom Sharp (4 for 32) ripped through the brittle Shropshire batting, with only Ralph (32) and last man Jonty Mountford(20) showing any resistance. The end came 40 minutes after lunch with Shropshire all out for 143, leaving Cornwall the victors by 54 runs.

This was a very disappointing display by Shropshire, who looked second best for most of the game. They will need to improve their performance in the next match against Wiltshire at Bridgnorth if they are to remain in contention for the Western Division title.

Umpires              R Tolchard and G Curson

Scorers               B Holder and CLW Barthorpe