HEREFORDSHIRE played out a thrilling draw with Shropshire in the Minor Counties Championship Western Division at Bridgnorth.

With three balls remaining in the three-day contest, the result could have gone four different ways but a share of the spoils was testament to a great game of cricket.

Aided by 152 from Steve Adshead, Shropshire were set 370 to win and the hosts fell just six runs short.

Winning the toss for the first time this season, Herefordshire skipper Chris Boroughs had no hesitation in batting first.

Dave Exall (80) and Ben Stebbings (87) put on 166 for the first wicket, a record against Shropshire, and the visitors were eventually all out for 319. Rob Foster claimed 7-105.

Shropshire had reached 186-3 by the end of the first day. James Ralph went on to make 97 as the hosts were dismissed for 396.

At the close of day two, the visitors led by 173 runs and they extended that to 369 on the third thanks to Stebbings (89) and Adshead, Herefordshire declaring on 446-6.

In their chase, Shropshire, helped by Ed Foster’s century, needed 17 to win off the final over but ended up settling for a draw.