Cheshire collapsed on the final day to suffer a heavy defeat at the hands of Shropshire in their Unicorns Championship Western Division match.

Danny Leech’s side had wrapped up the Shropshire second innings for 325 in the early stages of day three at Shifnal to leave them a tough, but not insurmountable, victory target of 266.

However, they barely made it past lunch as Shropshire skittled the visitors for a paltry 89 inside 29 overs.

Cheshire made a disastrous start to their run chase as Leech was bowled by seamer Gurjit Sandhu with just seven runs on the board.

And they were soon reduced to 16-3 when Sandhu struck twice in successive balls to account for Calum Rowe and Furqan Shafiq.

Rick Moore became the first of spinner Warwick Fynn’s four victims to leave Cheshire struggling on 18-4 before the interval.

Sam Perry (17) and Wayne White (14) advanced the score to 44, but the visitors were always facing an uphill battle.

Perry and White both succumbed to Fynn, who then completed his haul of 4-42 by dismising Simon Normanton.

Leg-spinner Sam Whitney wrapped up the innings in double-quick time with 3-7, including the scalp of Will Evans, who top-scored with 25.

It was a disappointing end for Cheshire after they had been in control of the game for large periods.

White’s 4-49 had bowled out Shropshire for 276 on the first day, despite Will Parton (74) and Alexei Kervezee (65) hitting half-centuries.

Cheshire established what was hoped would be a vital first-innings lead as Normanton’s 91, plus 50 from Shafiq, guided them to 346 all out in reply.

However, Shropshire ensured their rivals would have a tricky run chase as skipper Steve Leach - who was awarded his county cap during the fixture - compiled 104 in the hosts’ second innings.

He was ably supported by former Worcestershire batsman Kervezee (53), while Ryan Lockley (42) and Sandhu (23) made valuable contributions down the order.

White (4-78) brought an end to Shropshire’s second foray to the crease, but Cheshire then suffered a dose of the batting blues to end their hopes of a winning start.

Leech said: "It's a bit hard to take. We set ourselves up for the kill and it just all went wrong.

"The heat was stifling - but it was the same for both sides - and we were really up for it.

"The dejection in the dressing room afterwards said it all. But we have to take the positives and there were plenty with our debutants all getting stuck in, Simon Normanton hitting 91 and Wayne White being fit to bowl again.

"We'll dust ourselves down ready for out next Championship game against Wales in a fortnight."

The two counties meet again on Sunday at Bridgnorth in the semi-finals of the Unicorns Knockout Trophy (11am).