Ed Foster leads Shropshire to MCCA Trophy win

Foster leads Shropshire to their first Minor Counties final since 2003

A confident 112 from captain Ed Foster inspired Shropshire to a 14-run victory over Hertfordshire in the semi-finals of the Minor Counties Trophy.

Brother Rob weighed in with 64 as the side made 331-7 in their 50 overs.

The Shropshire attack then made regular inroads into the home line-up, Jono Whitney taking three wickets as Hertfordshire were bowled out for 317.

"It was a hard-fought but deserved win, a real team effort," skipper Foster told BBC Radio Shropshire.

"I'd have been disappointed if we hadn't won after putting up such a big score - but Hertfordshire made us fight all the way, and it was thanks to the boys taking wickets at regular intervals that they fell just short."

Witney's three-wicket haul was backed up by two apiece from Rob Foster, Andy Gray and Dan Bowen.

"It's tremendous to get to the final - we really didn't expect it at the start of the season," Ed Foster added.

"Now we're looking forward to a big day out - and we're confident we can win it."

Shropshire's opponents in the final - at Durham's Riverside ground in August on a date yet to be set - will be Lincolnshire, who emphatically beat Wiltshire in the other semi.