Shropshire and Staffordshire share the spoils in T20 derby

Shropshire and Staffordshire cancelled each other out in their local derby, after collecting a win apiece in the NCCA T20 Group 1 at Wem Cricket Club.

Group leaders Staffordshire had won the earlier clash by 32 runs, before Shropshire responded well to that defeat by winning the day’s second game by eight wickets.

In the morning, Staffordshire opened with the bat after Shropshire won the toss and elected to field.

Ollie Walker high-scored for Staffordshire with 36 and was ably assisted by Nils Priestley (34) and Matthew Morris (24).

Reece Evitts (14) and club captain James Kettleborough (12) kept the run count ticking along to guide Staffordshire on to 143/7 - with Ben Roberts and Oliver Smith taking two wickets apiece for Shropshire.

Staffordshire took nine wickets when Shropshire came to bat with Jake Garlick collecting four and Liam Hurt taking three.

Shropshire just never managed to get on a roll, as debutant Finley Jones high-scored with a modest 21.

Jones had received his first call-up by Shropshire earlier in the week after recently impressing with a century for Shrewsbury against Halesowen.

Joseph Johnson (19), Thomas Fell (14) and Connor Marshall and Morgan Ward (both 12) were also among the highest scorers for Shropshire, although they fell short of their target with 111/9.

In the afternoon, Shropshire once again won the toss and elected to field for the second time.

Staffordshire raced on to 148/5 thanks in large part to Ollie Walker’s unbeaten 51, which included four 6s from just 35 balls.

Joe Hawkins struck an unbeaten 33 and Nils Priestley hit a quickfire 25 - while Matthew Morris (19), Reece Evitts (eight), James Kettleborough (six) and Dan Lincoln (four) completed the run count for Staffordshire.

Sahal Malvernkar masterfully led the comeback charge for Shropshire when he powered an impressive 91 from just 52 balls.

Thomas Fell weighed in with 27 and Joseph Johnson added 23 to put Shropshire within touching distance of victory in the afternoon session.

Jones made just two runs in the 17th over but Malvernkar sealed the win with a four to send Shropshire on to 151/2 inside 18 overs.

Staffordshire sit top of the rankings in Group 1 after four games with five points - level with Northumberland in second.

They headed into the weekend fresh from collecting three points from their opening weekend against Northumberland.

After beating Northumberland by 45 runs in the early clash, Staffordshire registered a point in the afternoon with both teams locked on 170 runs.

Those results have also left Shropshire in third-place in the five-team group with four points.

Shropshire had emerged from their opening weekend with a win and a defeat against Cheshire.

Cheshire won the first clash by eight wickets before Shropshire prevailed in the second game by the same margin.

Next, Staffordshire will face Cheshire at Burslem Cricket Club on Sunday, June 14, while Shropshire will travel to Cockermouth to play Cumbria on the same date.