A MAGNIFICENT spell of spin bowling by skipper Mark Robinson saw Oswestry to a 70-run victory at Handsworth on Saturday - and with results elsewhere going their way, kept alive the club's hopes of promotion from Division Three of the Birmingham League.
Robinson took 8-39 in a devastating 16.1-over spell, as Handsworth collapsed from 98-0 to 153 all out in reply to the visitors' 223-7.
With the two sides immediately above them in the table dropping points, Oswestry have moved up to third in the table - and their two main rivals for the second promotion spot, Brewood and Tamworth, still have to come to Morda Road.
Dean Suter top-scored with a brisk 52 n.o. for Oswestry, hitting three sixes along the way. Alex Huxley (42), Nick Williams (38) and Warrick Fynn (25) were also in good form with the bat.
Openers Ricky Hooper and Richie Herbert got the Handsworth reply off to a flying start, and had taken the score to 98 off just 16 overs when Hooper was needlessly run out.
From then on it all revolved around Robinson, who bowled Herbert next over, and then proceeded to rip through the rest of the batting. The only remaining wicket he didn't take fell to Sam Huxley - and even that was to a slip catch by the skipper.
Oswestry Seconds opened up a nine-point gap at the top of the Second XI Division Two (North) by beating Cannock on a day when all four of the club's teams won - for the second time in four weeks.
Captain Steve Humphreys played a captain's innings of 70 to lead Oswestry to 265-9, with Robbie Clarke adding 47, Darron Humphreys 43 and Ben Parker-Marshall 29.
Cannock were then bowled out for 186, with Charlie Morris taking 4-47, and there were two wickets each for Parker-Marshall, Ollie Clarke and Robbie Clarke.
Oswestry Thirds kept up their title challenge in Division Four of the FBC Manby Bowdler League with a 28-run win over Calverhall at Oswestry School.
Dominic Bright's rich vein of form continues and his innings of 69 was comfortably the highest in a relatively low-scoring game. Of his team-mates, only Andrew Fraser (22) passed 20 as Oswestry were bowled out for 150.
But Calverhall had no answer to Oswestry's seam attack of Richard Jones (4-40), Iwan Roberts (3-29) and Matt Smart (2-37), and they were dismissed for 122.
The Fourths completed a full house for Oswestry with a 43-run win at Wellington Fifths. Youngsters Josh Kirk (65 n.o.), David Hartshorn (47) and Jonathan Davies (25 n.o.) helped Oswestry to 218-8, and Wellington's reply fell short at 175 all out. Owen Aspinall took 3-27, while Jim Phillips, Tom Davies and Hartshorn took two wickets apiece.
*This Saturday, Oswestry face a tough test at Studley (12 noon), while the Seconds take on Whitchurch Seconds (12.30pm).
The Thirds travel to Church Aston, and the Fourths play Llanidloes Seconds at Oswestry School.