Chirk

AN OUTSTANDING innings from Nicholas Flack played a big part in giving Chirk an excellent score which proved to be too high for the visiting Sentinel second XI to reach.

The winning draw sent Chirk a place above their opponents in the Shropshire County Cricket League Division Two.

Gareth Partridge gave his side an excellent start as he almost reached a century early in the afternoon.

First up to bat, Partridge managed a run-a-ball for 89 balls, including nine fours, before being caught by Matty Cliffe.

Flack was the next big-hitter to take to the crease however, and managed a huge 102 runs from 62 balls.

Hitting 14 fours and four sixes, Flack took his side’s score beyond the 200 mark before being caught out by Owen Morris.

The batting excellence did not stop at Flack however, with skipper Andrew Swarbrick adding a further 42 runs including two sixes.

Despite Shaun Walker being caught out for a duck, the addition of 32 more runs followed, taking Chirk’s total to 283-9 from their 40 overs.

The target for Sentinel was set very high, but top-order batsman Ralph Bishop started well, as he looked to match the efforts of Flack and Partridge. A good effort saw him reach a half-century, making 55 runs, including 10 fours, from 58 balls.

However, once Bishop was dismissed lbw, his team-mates were unable to keep up, with the next two batsmen managing just seven runs between them.

Darren Bullock tried to restore order by scoring 31, but he was caught out by Mark Shaw after facing 69 balls.

With their 40 overs drawing closer to an end, it was left to David Burnside and Austin Morris to get as many runs on the board as they could, however they could manage just three from 30 balls before their innings was cut short as the side reached the end of their overs.

Chirk first XI are back in action on Saturday when they take on Welshpool first XI at home.

Ellesmere

EACH of Ellesmere’s three sides tasted defeat on the weekend in what has proved to be a difficult start to the season so far.

Ellesmere first XI remain bottom of the table as their search for their first victory of the season continues.

Thy travelled to take on Shrewsbury second XI in their fourth Shropshire County Cricket League Division One fixture of the season.

The hosts were inserted to bat as Ellesmere won the toss.

An excellent innings for the hosts set Ellesmere a target which they knew would be extremely difficult to reach.

Shrewsbury skipper Daniel Manders was caught out by Max Smith after just seven runs, while Will Baker caught out Jon Anders after he added 23 runs.

A respectable innings for James Hulton-Harrop added 22 to the score, but then up stepped Adam Keen who really stole the show at the London Road ground.

Keen hit beyond a century, managing 108 in an innings when he looked untouchable.

Alongside him was Bradley Thornton who racked up 85 runs of his own to put the home side in a very comfortable position.

The unstoppable partnership hit 193 runs without being caught out, declaring a score of 261-3 for Ellesmere to chase.

Ellesmere struggled to match the consistent batting excellence of their opposition, and had a tough time trying to chase the target.

Laurence Ashley was first up to the crease with Fraser Duncan, but both were dismissed after putting just five runs on the board, all courtesy of Duncan.

George Austin managed 14 runs, before Max Smith and Felix Ashley were both dismissed without making any runs.

An eight from skipper Graeme Cowey, before he was caught out by Mark Jenks, meant Ellesmere desperately needed some big scores from the tail-end of the batting lineup.

It was not to be however, with the final five batsmen scoring just 33 runs between them, making a total of 89 not out.

Ellesmere second XI were also beaten despite Lee Davis making 85 not out.

Shifnal fourth XI proved too much with scores of 47, 48 and 32 scattered across the batting order.

Ellesmere third XI were beaten by Sentinel third XI.

Cae Glas

CAE Glas’ long trip to Trysull & Seisdon proved to be a disappointment as they crashed to a defeat by 152 runs on Saturday.

Inviting the hosts to bat, skipper Neil Bennett led the way as he capitalised on anything loose as Trysull raced to 28 without loss in the first four overs.

As the visitors gradually found their line, the home side continued to accumulate runs and a stand of 100 between Bennet and Neil Williams laid the foundation for a competitive 222-8 in their 45 overs.

Pick of the visitors bowling was Nick Broadbent, who bowled with great control to return figures of four for 46 from his 14 overs, Andy Hughes also taking two late wickets in his two for 26.

In reply, Trysull bowled with great control and none of the Cae Glas batsmen were able to assert themselves as they contrived to get themselves out without ever threatening the home side’s total.

None of the middle order made double figures as they were skittled out for only 70 in 30 overs.

Only Ian Holgate was able to make more than 20 runs, with Nathan Bartram and skipper Andy Griffiths being the only two remaining batsmen to score double figures.

Definitely a day to forget for the Cae Glas batting line up, who need to start firing if they are to avoid a relegation dogfight at the end of the season.

Meanwhile, Cae Glas seconds had a better afternoon at home to Iscoyd & Fenns Bank seconds in division eight of the Shropshire County Cricket League.

The hosts ran riot with a nine-wicket victory after putting their opposition in to bat first and restricting them to a score of 91-7 from their 40 overs.

Iscoyd captain Steve Reece hit 26 runs, but his team-mates could not follow suit, as they slumped to an underwhelming total.

Andy Kemp was first at the crease for Cae Glas, hitting 43 alongside Steve Dakin, who managed 12 before being dismissed lbw.

Simon Dean took his place and managed a respectable 21 not out to help his side get past the target set by their visitors.

A score of 93-1 from 24.1 overs was enough to take the 20 points from the afternoon.

On Saturday, Cae Glas firsts are back at Gatacre when they will look to get back to winning ways against Wheaton Aston first XI.

Frankton

FRANKTON firsts remain third in the Shropshire County Cricket League Division One after an away win over struggling Cound firsts on Saturday.

After winning the toss, Frankton decided to set their opposition a target to chase down by taking to the crease first.

The action got underway at with top-orders George Dickin and Brent Doubell getting things underway.

There was an early blow for Frankton who lost Dickin after he was caught out without making a run by Graham Trow.

Doubell managed 44 to make up for Dickin’s early dismissal and get runs on the board.

Skipper Mark Lammie was also dismissed without making a run, however the tail-end of the batters were able to add some respectable scores to push on towards their eventual total of 156 all out.

Richard Parry-Jones was the closest to Doubell’s score making 25 runs, before James Wigley added 15 and Archie Dickin scored 11.

Cound took to the crease to chase the target of 156, and started similarly to how Frankton had during their stint at bat.

Trow made 20 runs while fellow top-order batsman Dan Tudor was caught out by Thomas Wilkie without making a single run.

Pabel Kumar Saha was taken out after making 26 runs, before Cound’s top scorer of the afternoon, Farrell Waters, hit 38 before Stuart Lammie caught him out.

Wigley and Parry-Jones saw off the tail-end of Cound’s batters to take their opponents out for 142 runs, giving them a 14-run victory.

They will look to take another victory next time out on Saturday when they face Bridgnorth second XI away.

Frankton second XI were beaten by the visiting Willey firsts on Saturday by 61 runs.

Willey were first to bat as Frankton elected to field.

It was a good innings in particular for Richard Parker for Willey as he hit 84 not out, to set a difficult target to reach for the home side.

Frankton were made to chase 193-6, but struggled to match the efforts from their opposition.

George Austin managed 36 runs while Tom Cockayne was next best with 28.

They could only make 132 all out and Willey took the win.

Knockin & Kinnerley

Knockin firsts made the short trip to Alberbury, and were in command of the match at the halfway stage, having dismissed their local rivals for 76.

Jamie Jagger and Deon Biggs shared eight wickets. James Harrap top scored for Alberbury with 22.

However, 76 proved to be 26 too many for Knockin, who were dismissed for 50 in reply. Rhys Williams was the only batsman to make double figures in a horror show with the bat; Andy Holloway being the main protagonist, taking 5-8.

Knockin seconds entertained Broseley at the Nursery Ground on Saturday, and made a respectable 187 from 40 overs. Veteran opener Ed Nicholas made 49, Grant Tunnadine chipped in with 24, while 16-year-old George Lawrence made a breezy 39.

Broseley made light work of the run chase, and passed the finishing line with 11 overs to spare, with Ash Postance making an unbeaten 86.

Dan Morris took 1-28 off 8 overs, and beat the bat on numerous occasions.

Sunday saw Knockin third XI travel to Madeley, looking to maintain their 100 per cent win ratio.

Batting first after loosing the toss, having made a bright start and finding themselves 58 without loss, Knockin lost wickets at regular intervals, finally posting a total of 160 all out from 38 overs.

In the field, Knockin will rue missed opportunities, as seven catches were dropped by various players.

Madeley reached the winning score of 161 set in 41.3 overs for the loss of seven wickets. Dan Morris claiming two, for a fine bowling spell from 12 overs.

Father and son Gary and Ryan Darlington saw the fourth team put Madeley fours on the shelf on Sunday, as Knockin won by a wicket.