Cricket: Shropshire visit Cheshire in opener

Dec 13 2007 by Our Correspondent, Liverpool Daily Post

COUNTY cricket will return to Neston’s well-appointed Parkgate ground next season when Cheshire host Shropshire there in the Minor Counties Knock-out Cup Group One on Sunday, May 4.

Defeated finalists at Lord’s last August, Cheshire’s other group home game will be at Bramhall on Sunday, June 1. Their away fixture are against Bedfordshire at Ampthill Town on Sunday, April 27 and Oxfordshire at Great & Little Tew on Sunday, May 11.

Should they top their group Cheshire will be at home in the semi-finals against the winners of Group Three comprising Berkshire, Cornwall, Devon, Herefordshire and Wiltshire on Sunday, July 13. The final is at Lord’s on Wednesday, August 6.

Winners of the Minor Counties championship for the first time since 1988 last season, Cheshire begin their defence of the title against Wiltshire at Trowbridge from Sunday to Tuesday, June 8-10.

Full West division championship programme (all Sundays – Tuesdays) is: Wiltshire at Trowbridge, June 8-10; Wales at Chester July 22-24; Oxfordshire at Alderley Edge July 6-8; Devon at Exmouth July 20-22; Herefordshire at Eastnor August 3-5; Cornwall at Nantwich August 17-19. The play-off between the West and East group winners is on a West ground over four days beginning on Sunday, September 10.