CAPTAIN Chris Boroughs made a six-hour undefeated century to salvage a draw for reigning Western Division champions Herefordshire in their high-scoring three-day Minor Counties Championship opener against Shropshire at Luctonians.

The prolific batsman faced 327 balls for his valiant 107, which rescued Herefordshire's second innings after they appeared to be sliding towards defeat on the final day of the match at Mortimer Park.

Man-of-the-match Boroughs also starred for Herefordshire with the ball, snapping up 5-121, as the county's depleted bowling attack was punished by the Shropshire batsmen who rattled up a daunting first innings total of 536.

Indeed, the Shropshire total was the biggest amassed by the county and the most scored by a team in the Minor Counties Championship since 1947.

Herefordshire's opening batsman Harshad Patel also hit top form, scoring a century on the opening day after Boroughs had won the toss and chosen to bat first in glorious weather.

Patel shared a first-wicket stand of 95 with Rob Hughes (50), which formed the bedrock of Herefordshire's first innings total of 320-7 declared.

Patel, who was the fourth player dismissed, struck 128 from 255 balls in his eighth championship hundred and his fourth century against Shropshire.

The opener also contributed to a 150-run second-wicket partnership with former Luctonians skipper Karl Pearson, who made a patient 49.

Former Leicestershire player Tim Mason took the bowling honours for Shropshire, returning 6-66 from 25 overs.

Herefordshire's star bowler Kevin Cooper was limited to just six overs in the Shropshire innings after suffering a knee injury.

And the Shropshire batsmen took full advantage of his absence, with former Herefordshire batsman Steve Adshead (96) and Tony Parton (28) putting on 112 for the opening wicket.

However, the visitors then slipped to 234-5 before ex-Worcestershire batsman Duncan Catterall (152) and Guy Home (98) combined to take the total to 417-6, which was a record partnership for Shropshire in the Minor Counties Championship.

Facing a deficit of 216 runs to avoid an innings defeat, Herefordshire collapsed to 141-5 in their second innings before former Kent and England bowler Martin McCague joined mainstay Boroughs.

McCague made an entertaining 62 from just 63 balls in a vital sixth-wicket stand of 88 and then Nick Davies scored an unbeaten 53 from 81 deliveries.

The partnerships helped Hereford-shire to reach 334-6 and both skippers eventually decided to call a halt with 13 overs remaining and a positive result unlikely.

Herefordshire 1st innings: H Patel c & b Mason 128, R Hughes c Adshead b Mason 50, K Pearson b Mason 49, I Dawood b Mason 11, M McCague st Tilt b Mason 23, C Boroughs c Tilt b Shimmons 24, N Davies b Mason 0, J Willetts no 1, K Cooper no 5. Extras 29. Total 320-7 dec, 90 overs.

Shropshire bowling: A Shimmons 29-2-110-1; A O'Connor 10-0-44-0; D Catterrall 14-3-40-0; J Whitney 12-3-40-0, T Mason 25-11-66-6.

Shropshire 1st innings: S Adshead c McCague b Boroughs 96, T Parton c Pearson b Thomas 28, M Tilt lbw b Boroughs 0, T Mason c Pearson b McCague 11, M Davies C Dawood b McCague 44, D Catterall c Dawood b Pearson 152, G Home c sub b Boroughs 98, D Bowett c Dawood b Boroughs 12, J Whitney b Pearson 13, A O'Connor c Pearson b Boroughs 22, A Shimmons no 8. Extras 52. Total 536, 100 overs.

Herefordshire bowling: K Cooper 6-1-27-0; M McCague 26-4-119-2; N Davies 10-0-60-0; C Boroughs 26-5-121-5, P Thomas 14-2-77-1; C Powell 6-0-45-0; K Pearson 12-0-75-2.

Herefordshire 2nd innings: H Patel lbw b O'Connor 22, R Hughes c Parton b O'Connor 0, K Pearson lbw b Bowett 48, C Boroughs no 107, I Dawood c Tilt b Whitney 12, J Willetts lbw b Whitney 0, M McCague c Shimmons b Catterall 62, N Davies no 53. Extras 30. Total 334-6, 111 overs.

Shropshire bowling: A Shimmons 27-8-64-0, A O'Connor 18-4-58-2, D Catterall 15-3-56-1, T Mason 23-6-66-0, J Whitney 11-3-39-2, D Bowett 14-4-28-1, G Home 3-2-4-0.

Match drawn.