Cornwall ended the second day of their Minor Counties Championship game with Shropshire at St Austell on Monday evening with plenty to do to salvage anything from the final game of the season. In reply to the visitors' 296 Cornwall were bowled out for 201, their lowest first innings score of the season.

With a deficit of 95 on the first innings Shropshire batted steadily to end the day 214 ahead with six second innings wickets remaining.

Alex Tunnadine was called up at the eleventh hour replacing Neil Curnow, who sustained a football injury on Saturday.

After electing to bat, Shropshire fought back well on Sunday, having been 97 for four at lunch and 213 for seven shortly after tea, they recovered to make 296 all out with a couple of overs remaining of their first innings allotment of 90. Interestingly all ten batsmen were dismissed by catches.

Shropshire's batting hero was wicket-keeper Matthew Tilt who made an impressive championship best 80 not out batting at number eight. Despite suffering a hand injury, that prevented him from taking the gloves later, he hit 17 boundaries in an innings of 93 balls. Earlier Chris Martin edged Ryan Driver in the fifth over with keeper Karl Turner holding the first of his three catches on the day.

Jono Whitney, promoted up the order after a number of good knocks this year, and Ed Foster took the total to 56 before Whitney was held by Driver in the gully off Anthony Penberthy for 17. The former Northamptonshire all rounder struck in his next over to have ex-Yorkshire all rounder Gary Fellows caught behind for a duck. When Foster, who hit two sixes and four fours in his 40, found Thomas at mid-wicket the visitors were in trouble at 63 for four in the 25th over.

Duncan Catterall started the recovery, making 38 before being held at slip off Chris Hunkin after lunch. Skipper Guy Home was unable to repeat his century last time out with Penberthy having him caught behind for 12. Jamie Ralph was holding the innings together but fell in the over after tea when he mis-timed Driver to Thomas at mid off when pulling at a short ball.

Cornwall sensed a quick end to the innings but were frustrated by Tilt and the tail as the last three wickets added 83 over 20 overs in increasingly gloomy light as cloud cover came in following a fine day.

Cornwall only batted two overs before bad light ended play. The second day was delayed by 35 minutes following overnight and morning rain and Cornwall soon had problems. In the fifth over of the day David Roberts skied a pull shot with Gary Fellows holding on to the chance at cover.

Full report in this week's issue.