Double T20 delight for Cheshire over Shropshire

YouTube highlights - Cheshire v Shropshire

Scorecard 1: Shropshire 124-4 (20), Cheshire 125-2 (15.5 overs). Cheshre won by 8 wickets

Scorecard 2: Cheshire 212-5 (20), Shropshire 138-8. Cheshire won by 74 runs

All results

Nick Anderson may have had to wait two years to lead Cheshire's T20 team but he'll have no complaints with the results of his first outing as Cheshire defeated Shropshire twice at Oxton.

Winning the toss for both games, Cheshire bowled first off but after a succesful chase, switched to bat first second time round.

Shropshire's 124-4 felt below par in the first game after some miserly bowling from Mike Finan (3-8) led the charge. His pace and accuracy was one of the highlights throughout the day. New Shropshire signing Andre Bradford (53) and skipper Graham Wagg (52) promised much as they added 100 for the second wicket but with both dismissed at 111, the innings fell away.

Rob Sehmi (61) and Sam Perry (51) then took charge taking Cheshire to 114 before losing a wicket as the home side galloped home to win by eight wickets.

Bouyed by the momentum, the two then opened in the second game, this time Sehmi blitzing 70. Runs too for Harry Dearden (27) and Will Evans (32). A final flurry between Nick Anderson (42) and Alex Money (21*) set a challenging 212-5.

And so it proved. Wagg topped scored with 45 and Sam Ellis made 26 in Shropshire's 138-8 but again Finan shone (2-18), well backed up by Andy Jackson, Steve Green, Luke Young and Jack Williams who each took a wicket.

Cheshire oozed confidence with bat and ball across the two games in what were ultimately sound all-round team performances.

Next up it's double headers with Staffordshire (who won both their games against Northumberland) and Cumbria (yet to play). The games will be played on consecutive days, 1 May at Leek and Bank Hoilday Monday against Cumbria at Toft.