Chirk

CHIRK are well-placed in the Shropshire Cricket League Division Two after a thumping win over Welshpool.

The visitors to Holyhead Road decided to give their hosts the chance to set a target but may have soon regretted it when Andrew Swarbrick’s men set an imposing 273 to win.

After a solid start, mainly from Gareth Partridge’s 41 before he was bowled by Robert Anderson, James Carter and Nicholas Flack took the game away from their opponents with a fine third-wicket stand of 115.

Flack was ultimately dismissed by Chris Proctor, caught by Patrick Davies, for 65 but all that did was bring skipper Swarbrick to the party and he carried on where he left off in recent weeks.

He reached 55 from just 37 balls as he scored four fours and two sixes, but he also showed his ability to run between the wickets too before being bowled by Proctor.

Carter remained unbeaten as he finished on 82 not out – just 20 scored in boundaries – as Chirk posted a total of 272-4 from their 45 overs.

In reply, Chirk made a perfect start when they reduced Welshpool to 1-2 after Nick Davies and Dan Chodecki were out for ducks.

However, Welshpool recovered to reach 74-3 before Billy Swarbrick trapped Paul Chapman lbw for 42 from 63 balls and then James Brees followed two runs later.

A lower-middle order fightback from Proctor and Patrick Davies saw the Welshpool score to some respectability but Andrew Swarbrick returned to hoover the tail and bowl them out for 144.

He finished with fine figures of 5-21 while Billy and Partridge grabbing two apiece, with one for Wynn Jones.

Chirk are now into fourth spot but are 43 points behind leaders Wellington second XI but the gap from second to fourth is just 14 points with Lilleshall and Montgomery occupy second and third, respectively.

On Saturday, they will travel to Worfield’s second XI, who sit one place below them in the league table and a win for Andrew Swarbrick’s men will see them open a gap on the team below them.

Meanwhile Chirk’s second string will host Albrighton’s second XI.

Knockin & Kinnerley

KNOCKIN & Kinnerley’s first XI were well beaten by Cound on Saturday in the Shropshire Cricket League Division One.

Batting first after skipper Jak Jones elected to set a target, the home side posted a total of 184 all out after they were bowled out in the final over.

Knockin got off to a poor start when Lloyd Edwards was out for three, but they re-built with Jones and Lawrie Hitchin before the skipper fell for 13.

Hitchin was then joined by Seth Bradbury, and both went on to make half centuries in a third-wicket partnership of 82 before both men were dismissed by Calum Marsh.

However, their good work was undone when Knockin lost their last five wickets for only 14, as Cound mopped up the tail in short time.

In reply, the visitors were clearly in a hurry, as 17 overs were still to be bowled as they cruised past the finishing line, with the assault led by Graeme Trow, who made an unbeaten 83, carrying his bat throughout the Cound innings.

Matty Evans, Deon Biggs and Dan Jones all took a wicket apiece on a dismal day for Knockin.

Meanwhile, the second XI made the short journey to Wem on Saturday, and were bundled out inside 32 overs for 108.

Only Ed Nicholas with 39 and Dave Jones (20) made double figures, while Josh Gough was the star man for the hosts, as he took 7-35.

A total of 108 was never going to be enough against a side of Wem’s quality, and they were home and hosed after 22 overs, as Jack Davies and Rhys Mellings knocked off the runs as Wem won by 10 wickets.

Knockin third XI took on Cound on Sunday, and at the interval they were in the drivers seat, having dismissed Cound for 112.

The visitors soon made inroads into the Knockin reply, and the hosts found themselves 35-5.

Gary Darlington and Ant James steadied the ship before a comedy mix up saw Darlington run out with 30 still required.

George Lloyd then assisted James in steering the ship home, and James ended up unbeaten on 60, as Knockin crept home by four wickets.

On Saturday, the first XI will make the short trip to Frankton in a north Shropshire derby at 1pm.

Ellesmere

ELLESMERE were humiliated in their home clash against Pontesbury in the Shropshire Cricket League Division One.

Tom Davies’s men were beaten by a mammoth 191 runs as they were bowled out for just 36 chasing 228 to win.

The visitors opted to bat first and 50s for Dan Walker and Patrick Cudmore, with 51 and 56, respectively, after solid starts from the top order, set the platform for Pontesbury to post 227-8 from their 45 overs.

Robbie Hartshorn finished with a red inker too as he posted a quickfire 30 not out but the star man for Ellesmere’s bowling was Ashley Thomas.

He finished with figures of 7-86 from 14 overs as he carried the home attack, with Davies getting the other visiting wickets.

Any thoughts of an Ellesmere win dissipated almost immediately as both openers were out for a duck and number three batsmen George Austin was out for one.

Will Baker’s nine was the highest score on a sorry day for the Mere men, with Pontesbury only using two bowlers as Stephen Wilson took 5-9 and Matt Ramsay 5-23.

On Saturday, the first XI make the trip to Alberbury, while the seconds host Llanidloes, both at 1pm.

Frankton

FRANKTON were also well beaten in their clash at Bridgnorth on Saturday.

Batting first after winning the toss, Bridgnorth were solid throughout, accumulating runs as the Frankton bowling attack appeared toothless.

Openers Alex Yarnley and Patrick Smallman scored 32 and 30, respectively, before Jacob Northwood and Mark Lammie struck and while Northwood added two more to his total, a fine 43 not out from skipper Matthew Martin, aided by 31 not out from Cameron Wallis saw the home team to 210-5 from their 45 overs.

Fourth change bowlers Northwood finished with 3-32, while Lammie took 2-44.

In reply, openers Ian Whitticase and Brent Doubell struggled and were dismissed for four and 14, respectively, but a fine 65 for Thomas Wilkie batting at number three gave Frankton a chance.

Once he was out, Frankton struggled to 154 all out as Northwood finished 17 not out in the 35th over.

The second XI picked up a nine-wicket win at home to Hinstock, with 3-18 for Richard Lammie, while on Sunday, the third XI drew with Shrewsbury’s fourths.

Cae Glas

IT WAS a day of mixed fortunes for Cae Glas as they entertained Wheaton Aston at Gatacre in the Shropshire Cricket League Division Four on Saturday.

Having put the visitors in they almost had a dream start when Wheaton Aston dangerman Nathan Whittingham edged to slip in the first over, but the chance was spilled and he rode his luck further being dropped twice more as he led from the front for the visitors in making 61.

However, the introduction of Dave Edwards to the attack brought a deserved caught-and-bowled.

Despite the dropped catches, in between Cae Glas fielded superbly exemplified by a brilliant one-handed diving catch in the covers from skipper Pete Bowyer and a sharp catch at square leg from Gary Davies, as Wheaton Aston posted 118-7 in their 40 overs.

Pick of the home side’s bowling attack was Matt Coulson with 3-14 in his spell.

In reply, Cae Glas took advantage of the excellent wicket and fast outfield to get off to a flyer, but the introduction of the spinners early on put the brakes on the Cae Glas response.

George Candler batted patiently for his 21 and Gary Davies took the attack to Wheaton Aston with an aggressive 42 not out.

Cae Glas never really threatened the total though, and were happy with a much improved batting performance finishing on 153-6 for a comfortable losing draw and a point split of 12-9 in favour of the visitors.

They will be looking to build on that batting performance as they travel to Church Stretton this weekend for the first game in the win/lose format.