Norfolk’s destiny is out of their hands in the National Counties knockout competition.

Defeat away to Shropshire means they are reliant on other results if they are to have any chance of qualifying for the quarter-finals.

Despite heavy rain, thunder and lightning on Saturday night, the game got underway at 11am the following day as the ground had drained well.

After losing the toss, Norfolk batted first on a slow wicket. They got off to a good start with captain Sam Arthurton and Ben Curran putting on 64 for the first wicket before Curran (22) was bowled by slower bowler Charlie Home, who was on the books with Curran at Northamptonshire.

Ben Wilcox was next to go, trapped lbw by the other slow bowler, Matt Simmonds, with the score on 76. Worse was to follow in the 90s as Norfolk lost three wickets for just two runs. Arthurton ran down the wicket and was stumped by Ben Lees off Simmonds for 28 and both Luke Caswell and Freddie Fairey fell to paceman Jack Home in the same over to leave Norfolk in trouble on 95-5.

There were still 27 overs to go, and it was vital that Norfolk tried to bat all their overs. Alfie Cooper and Jason Reynolds set about repairing the damage with a stand of 41 before Reynolds was lbw to Charlie Home and then five runs later Cooper followed him back to the pavilion. Ryan Findlay played very well and supported by Callum Metcalf, Brett Stolworthy and Andy Hanby he made sure Norfolk utilised all the overs as they finished on 223-9. Findlay had six fours and one six in his unbeaten 51.

After the break batting seemed a different proposition as Andre Bradford and George Hargrave had put on 50 for the first wicket when Hargrave fell to a catch by Caswell off the bowling on Metcalf for 30. This brought ex-Worcestershire man Tom Fell to the crease and along with Bradford they put on a match-winning partnership of 147. The elegant Fell played with great composure and rarely looked in danger. He had made 88 when he struck a ball from Hanby to the safe hands of Arthurton. Metcalf then bowled Ollie Westbury and Hanby had Bradford caught by Freddie Fairey for 71. It was a case of too little too late for Norfolk. The final wicket to fall was a stunning diving catch by Hanby from the part-time bowling of Arthurton, but that was it as Shropshire deservedly reached their victory target in the 48th over.