Cheshire fall at semi-final stage

Nathan Dumelow hit 33 in Cheshire's defeat by Shropshire © David Bailey

James McCoy and Nathan Dumelow sparkled with the bat but could not prevent Cheshire slipping to a six-wicket defeat against Shropshire in the Minor Counties 20/20 Challenge Tournament at Wrekin College in Wellington.

Having been asked to bat, Widnes batsman McCoy top-scored with a rapid 40 from 37 balls, an innings which included four fours and one six, while Oulton Park captain Dumelow smashed 33 from just 17 balls. His knock included five fours and a six.

Hyde left-hander James Duffy chipped in with 18 from 19 deliveries and Oxton's Chris Davies hit an unbeaten 20 from 16 balls, but, having been 81 for two, Cheshire lost wickets quickly at the end of the innings.

McCoy and Dumelow shared a second-wicket stand of 62 after the loss of Oulton Park's Jonny Kettle with the score on 19.

But Cheshire lost their next five wickets for 53 runs as they struggled to get close to the 150 mark. They eventually closed on 135 for seven from their allotted 20 overs.

The Minor Counties champions had been flying at 59 for one from 7.4 overs and then 82 for two from nine overs, but some tight bowling from Australian recruit Reece O'Connell (3-21) and Adam Shimmons (2-12) made sure the hosts restricted their run chase.

In reply, Shropshire were struggling at 11 for two, 44 for three and 48 for four after nine overs.

But the introduction of O'Connell, brought in especially for the match, changed proceedings.

The hard-hitting all-rounder smashed an unbeaten 57 from just 27 balls. His innings included four sixes and three fours.

Ed Foster contributed an unbeaten 34 from 28 balls as the pair shared in an unbroken fifth-wicket partnership of 88 to steer Shropshire home with three overs to spare.

Jonathan Whitney contributed a useful 24 at a run a ball, with Oulton Park's left-arm seamer Guy Emmett the pick of Cheshire's bowlers with a 2-23 from four overs.

Hyde off-spinner Daniel Berry and Neston seamer Chris Finegan claimed Cheshire's other wickets.

In the second semi-final of the competition the Lashings World XI beat Staffordshire by three runs having been set a revised target for victory because of rain.

Lashings then went on to win the competition for the second successive year with a seven-wicket victory over Shropshire.