NCCA Counties

Shropshire’s focus quickly turns to the National Counties Twenty20 Cup 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 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.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.