Cumberland bid to repair the damage after a massive defeat in their opening game of the MCCA Trphy last week-end.

On Sunday they are due to host Northumberland at Penrith and will want to improve dramatically on their hammering against Shropshire.

Cumberland slumped to defeat by 226 runs, whuich was a record win for Shropshire.

Skipper Gary Pratt (pictured alongside batting at Shropshire) will lead the following team against Northumberland as Cumberland bid to make amends in the second fixture of the season.

James Lowe, Jonathon Miles, Alex Roberts, Gary Pratt (Cap't), Ikram Ullah (w/keeper), Darren Clark, James Beaumont, Graham Dawson, Chris Miller, Stuart Parkin and Marcus Sharp. The start time is 11-00am.

Cumberland had been up against a new look Shropshire side, with last year’s captain Jamie Ralph and batting stalwart Atiq Chishti having departed to Herefordshire.

Their replacements were ex Surrey man Chris Murtagh and former Shrewsbury School boy Joe Leach, now on the Worcestershire books. In addition, Whitchurch paceman Dan Bowen made his County debut and Alex Blofield made his one day debut.

The Shifnal ground looked in excellent condition as Cumberland captain Pratt won the toss and, possibly worried by the greenish tinge on the wicket and the threat of showers, asked Shropshire to bat.

 He was to regret that decision, as Shropshire raced to 322 for 9 in their 50 overs, the highest one day score by the County, beating the 313 for 3 v Wales at Perkins in 1991.

They were given an excellent start by the inform Ed Foster and Jono Whitney, who put together an opening stand of 74 in quick time with controlled, aggressive batting. Murtagh departed early but Foster and Whitney took the score to 196 with a stand of 105 before Foster was out for 64, his career best one day score.

Whitney finally succumbed to a boundary catch for 90, also a career best one day score, before Leach took control of the final overs with a brutal assault on the bowlers. He was finally dismissed for 63, made in just 40 balls, as the innings finished on 322 for 9. James Beaumont (3 for 58) was the pick of the Cumberland bowlers.

A heavy rain shower during the interval delayed the start of the Cumberland innings and the prospect of Duckworth Lewis playing a part in proceedings, but in the event a 4.15 start gave the visitors the full 50 overs to chase their target.

They got off to a poor start as Bowen took his first Shropshire wicket, bowling James Lowe, and fellow opener Jonathon Miles was smartly taken at slip by Andy Gray off Steve Taylor.

Pratt briefly threatened, striking six boundaries before Bowen struck again, bowling him for 32. The innings quickly subsided, as the visitors lost their last eight wickets for 41 with all the bowlers getting in on the act.

Whitney capped an excellent performance with 3 for 3, another one day career best. Cumberland were finally dismissed for 96 in 33.4 overs as Shropshire won by a massive 226 runs, their best ever one day victory.

Cumberland will follow-up on Sunday, May 9 at Leek against Staffordshire and conclude on May 23 at Netherfield against Cheshire. With an early crushing defeat behind them hey have work to do to qualify for the quarter finals.

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