Manby Bowdler Shropshire Cricket League - Division One
Welshpool v Frankton
FRANKTON kept up their promotion challenge with a winning draw at mid table Welshpool.
Skipper Jordan Parry won the toss and elected to bat first and it seemed a correct call as opening pair Ian Whitticase and Nalaka De Silva put on 49 for the first wicket.
Whitticase went on to top score with a well-compiled 68 until he was third man out, adjudged lbw with the score on exactly 100. Jordan Parry provided some late innings impetus with 32 runs as Frankton totalled 182-7 off 40 overs.
Slow bowlers Chris Owen and Joe Birch each picked up two wickets for the hosts.
Both Welshpool openers were removed by the returning Rich Parry-Jones, who had the impressive figures of 3-34 off 13 excellent overs.
Number three Llyr Thomas made the most of some luck to joint top score with 35 before he became the first of two victims for seamer Mark Tomley (2-29).
Rob Birch showed some positive intent to also score 35, but once he was removed by Tom Wilkie (3-34) any hope of a Welshpool victory evaporated and Frankton were once again left frustrated by a lack of desire to chase down the required total by the hosts.
Welshpool ended adrift on 149-8 to split the points 16-8 in Frankton’s favour.
Frankton 182-7 (16 points) winning draw v Welshpool 149-8 (eight points).