Oswestry’s Morda Road ground has been chosen to host Shropshire County Cricket Club’s opening home three-day match of the season, which starts this weekend.

Shropshire are preparing to face Wales in the National Counties Cricket Association Championship, with the match getting under way at 11am on Sunday. 

Admission is free for spectators to enjoy the cricket on all three days. 

The county side has played at Morda Road many times since Oswestry staged its first Shropshire fixture in 1964.

Shropshire had been scheduled to play Suffolk in the NCCA’s One Day Trophy at Oswestry last month, but rain meant the game was abandoned without a ball bowled.

Shropshire CCC chairman John Hulme is now hoping for better luck with the weather as the county side look forward to returning to Oswestry.
He said: "Shropshire CCC are very much looking forward to playing Wales at Morda Road.

"The county have always been very well looked after at Oswestry and the players enjoy the special, intimate atmosphere there. 

"Shropshire first played at Oswestry back in 1964 and over the years the ground has seen many a high-scoring and entertaining game.

"It is a most attractive setting for county cricket and has some excellent facilities. It really is a traditional ground, close to the town centre and full of character.

"The county club has historically always been well supported at Morda Road, especially for the games against Wales. 

"There is normally plenty of good natured banter from those just over the the border, in particular the cricketing fraternity of Newtown and Welshpool!

"The county game is always regarded as very much a good day out for local followers of the game.

"After the disappointing washout against Suffolk, the forecast seems set fair, so we are expecting a good attendance over the three days.’' 

Shropshire will select their side later this week for the second of four Championship matches they will play this season in the NCCA's Western Division Two.

There will be a public bar and food outlets available for spectators throughout all three days at Morda Road.

Parking at the club is reserved for players and officials only, with free parking available at the nearby Marches School on Sunday only. 

The match is being jointly sponsored by GHP Legal and Whittingham Riddell.