Bedfordshire were sent crashing out of the MCCA Trophy by Shropshire at Flitwick on Sunday.

They were beaten by six wickets and, although there is still a round of group matches to go, they now have no chance of qualifying for the quarter-finals of the competition.

After winning the toss and deciding to bat, Bedfordshire lost their first four wickets for just 15 runs as the ball swung prodigiously despite the cold conditions.

Skipper James Knott (37) and Marcus Steed (31) initiated a partial recovery, but after that only some lusty blows by Mark Jackson (27) saw them to a total of 137.

Shropshire's top order also struggled, but John Maunders held the side together with a fine innings of 62 and the result was never seriously in doubt.

Disappointed skipper Knott said: "We never came to terms with the conditions.

"Shropshire both batted and bowled better than we did."

Bedfordshire will now have only pride to play for when they take on Oxfordshire in the final group game at Challen on June 2.

The county start their Minor Counties Championship programme this weekend when they take on Suffolk at Dunstable Town's Totternhoe ground on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.

They could well be without Knott whose wife is expecting their second child in the next few days.