DIRECTOR of cricket John Abrahams insisted Shropshire had plenty to play for this summer despite NCCA Trophy disappointment.

The Salopian side’s final group game in Cumbria was cancelled on Sunday after rain made the Netherfield CC pitch unplayable.

Shropshire’s qualification hopes in the competition ended with defeat against Staffordshire at Oswestry a week earlier.

The visitors were 96-6 in the 28th over when rain prevented any further play as both teams were awarded a point

Cumbria, having won all three of their previous games in this season’s One Day Trophy, finished top of Group One and can look forward to the quarter finals while leaving Shropshire to prepare for the NCCA Championship and their opening three-day match of the season against Herefordshire starting at Shifnal on July 25.

The hard work would continue in training said Abrahams.

John Abrahams said: “We’ll be looking to have a couple of practice sessions in preparation for the change to the red-ball matches.

“We’re hoping to get together over the next two weeks prior to the first game.”

Abrahams praised the fourth wicket partnership of Charlie Home and Dan Lloyd which looked in good touch when the heavens opened.

He said: “It was encouraging to observe the partnership between Charlie Home and Dan Lloyd in his first trophy game of the season.

“Both acquitted themselves really well until Charlie was unfortunately out.

“Dan showed the patience and concentration that we’ve been asking for from all our batsmen in that once you’re in that you don’t give it away and you try to stay in.

“Unfortunately, the rain curtailed Dan’s innings, but he was looking in control against both seam bowlers and spin bowlers.”

Abrahams said the county stars would have plenty to work on before the visit of their local rivals on July 25.

Abrahams added: “It was disappointing to again have a poor start to the innings, losing wickets for very few runs, and that is something that we will have to address before the red-ball competition starts.

“Cumbria bowled two spinners who kept it very quiet and also took wickets.

“That’s another area that we’ve identified that needs to be addressed, our game plan, our method against playing spin, so that’s something we will look at before the three-day games start.”