OSWESTRY’S cricketers kept up their hopes of promotion from Division Three of the Birmingham League with a hard-fought winning draw against an unimaginative Studley side on Saturday.
Ninety minutes of rain after seven overs of the Oswestry innings meant 22 overs were lost, and an inspired batting performance by his side’s batsmen allowed skipper Mark Robinson to declare on 255-8 after 44 overs.
Alex Huxley led the way with 87 before he was run out, and 16-year-old Robbie Clarke hit a superb unbeaten 62 in his first top-order innings for the team.
His brother Joe made 26 and Joe Carrasco 18.
Studley made no attempt to go for the runs on a flat batting surface, and it took them 27 of their 44 overs to reach 70.
Warrick Fynn produced a good spell of 4-32, but the innings closed on 153-5, leaving Oswestry with 16 points and Studley with six.
A magnificent century by Owen Johnson helped Oswestry Seconds to a 111-run victory over Whitchurch as the team moved 13 points clear at the top of the 2nd XI Division Two (North).
Johnson blasted 12 fours and five sixes in his 113, and shared a stand of 161 with skipper Steve Humphreys, who scored 93 in a total of 299.
Whitchurch never looked like reaching their target and were bowled out for 188, with spinners Charlie Morris (4-34) and Ollie Clarke (3-70) doing most of the damage.
Oswestry Thirds’ chances of winning Division Four of the FBC Manby Bowdler League took a dive as they lost by 20 runs at Church Aston.
Adam Woodcock (3-25) and Richard Jones (3-27) were the pick of the Oswestry bowlers as Church Aston were bowled out for 186.
Dominic Bright led the Oswestry reply with a superb 85 and Jones weighed in with 25, but no-one else reached double figures as the innings ended at 166 all out.
Oswestry Fourths earned a comfortable 131-run over Llanidloes Seconds at Oswestry School.
A century stand between Jim Phillips (65) and Alan Morris (63no) helped Oswestry to 241-7, with Jame Bradbury hitting 26.
Llanidloes were then dismissed for 110, with Phillips, Morris and Tom Davies taking two wickets each.
Oswestry First XI take on bottom-of-the-table St Georges at Morda Road on Saturday (noon), with the Seconds away to the Dragons.
Oswestry Thirds play Wroxeter Seconds at Oswestry School, while the Fourths visit Knockin Thirds.