Cricket: Shropshire facing early Unicorns Trophy exit

Shropshire, Unicorns Trophy runners-up in 2013, lost their opening game of the 2015 competition to Cumberland at Bridgenorth.

Shropshire are facing early elimination from the Unicorns Trophy after losing for the second successive Sunday.

Following last weekend's opening qualifying group loss against Cumberland, Shropshire went down to a 95-run defeat by Cheshire at Nantwich.

Cheshire's Rick Moore hit a century against Shropshire for the second year running, ending up unbeaten on 130 as the home side piled up 329-6.

Opener Steve Leach top scored with 75 as the visitors were dismissed for 234.

Shropshire had both their two promising Worcestershire and England Under-19 players in the team but Ed Barnard made only 17 and Joe Clarke was run out without scoring after a mix-up with Leach.

Shropshire must now beat Northumberland at Oswestry this Sunday to keep alive their qualification chances.

"It's made it extra difficult to qualify because we can now only get four points, but while it's mathematically possible you never know," said chairman of selectors Brian Foxall. "We really need everyone else to start beating each other.

"It was better than the Cumberland game but we still bowled inconsistently, Cheshire got off to an absolute flier and we never managed to pull them back."