Wilts stay in charge (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Wilts stay in charge

Shropshire made a spirited reply on day two of the Minor Counties Championship match against Wiltshire at Whitchurch.

Resuming on 81-1 off 20 overs overnight and chasing Wiltshire's magnificent 439-7 the hosts made 340-6 off their allotted 90 overs.

Shropshire skipper Guy Home struck an unbeaten century, finishing on 105 not out when the innings ended. He was supported by Ed Foster with 56, Duncan Catterall 54 and Matthew Tilt with 44 not out.

Home and wicketkeeper Tilt shared in an unbroken seventh-wicket partnership of 122.

Three Shropshire wickets fell for just one run at 122 with James Golding claiming two of them and Richard Bedbrook the other.

Golding was Wiltshire's most successful bowler with 4-80 off 29 overs.

Wiltshire led by 99 runs on the first innings and had extended that advantage to 211 at the close of play yesterday, with eight wickets left.

Wiltshire reached 55 without loss, with Damian Sirazi and Kevin Blackburn not out on 30 and 22 respectively. Sirazi went for 39 and nightwatchman Patrick Turk, a leg-spinner from the BAT club who replaced injured Kevin Nash, also perished before close of play.

At the close Wiltshire reached 112-2, with Blackburn unbeaten on 60.