Frankton signed off in style against Newtown after securing another year of Shropshire County Premier Division cricket in 2018.

The Hardwick Park men finished fourth from bottom in a season which threatened to see them fall through the trap door.

Ian Whitticase won the toss and put his visitors into bat and they set a challenging target of 186 to win after being bowled out for 185.

Newtown shared the runs around the batting line-up but it was a star bowling performance from Jacob Northwood, who picked a superb 5-38 from 8.4 overs.

He was ably supported by Richard Parry-Jones, who grabbed 3-47 from 15 overs while Abdullah Asif and Jack Hutchinson signed off the season with one wicket apiece.

Any fears of a tough challenge to finish the season were heightened when both openers – Whittcase and partner Dave Powell – were removed for four.

But it was plain sailing after that with a huge third wicket partnership between Thomas Wilkie, who made 74 before he was run out, while Scott Hale finished 55 not out to see Frankton over the line.

n On Sunday, the 3rd XI finished their season off with a superb four-wicket win away at Cound.

Putting their hosts in, a 69 from Dave Farrall gave Cound a platform to set a challenging 172 to win.

Farrall was one of Felix Jebb’s five victims for 27 runs from eight overs, with Ollie Harris picking up 3-63 from 10 overs; George Austin and Owen Wear grabbed one each.

Frankton’s reply wobbled with none of the top batsmen making higher than 17 and skipper Jack Evans was out for a duck.

However, Austin’s superb 50 not out and James Barlow’s 42 not out saw Frankton over the line to record a fine win.