Knockin & Kinnerley

KNOCKIN & Kinnerley first XI claimed a huge win in the Shropshire County Cricket League Division One on the weekend as they took on Ellesmere in a bottom of-the-table clash.

Both sides needed a win after a miserable start to the season.

Knockin batted first in front of a home crowd with Thomas Dix starting well in partnership with Lloyd Edwards.

Edwards fell short of a century, scoring 90 in what was an excellent innings for the top-order batsman.

Dix scored 53 not out and Knockin set a target of 162-4 from 28.5 overs.

Ellesmere came very close to reaching the target set in reply, but they were taken out for 161 runs.

Shaun Davis and Jamie Birch did well to catch out the opening two batsmen for Ellesmere after they had scored just 14 runs between them.

Ellesmere’s Lee Davis, Tom Davies and Ashley Thomas all managed a score of more than 30, but their teammates could not help them to reach the target as they were taken all out for 161 after 44.4 overs.

Knockin first XI are in action again on Saturday when they take on Newtown.

The win means Knockin have jumped up a place and now sit two places ahead of bottom-of-the-table side Ellesmere.

There was also reason to celebrate for Knockin’s second XI on the weekend as they claimed their first win of the season away at Montgomery.

Although they remain bottom of the Shropshire County Cricket League Division Five, the win moves them closer to Montgomery who lie second from bottom.

After being set a target of 183-8 by Montgomery, Knockin showed some great batting with Gary Darlington starting off with 53 runs.

Eric Heath was also on form, scoring 46 not out to carry his team towards the target. They scored 187-5 to take the win.

The second XI take on Newtown seconds on Saturday.

Knockin thirds were not in action on the weekend, but they return to face Whihtchurch thirds on Sunday.

Knockin fours faced Wellington fifth XI on Sunday.

Wellington set a target of 237-9 which was too much for Knockin as they scored 78 all out in return.

They take on Bomere Heath thirds on Sunday.

Cae Glas

CAE GLAS still find themselves looking for their first win of the season despite a spirited performance against league hopefuls Calverhall on Saturday.

Sitting second from bottom in the Shropshire County Cricket League Division Four table, Cae Glas took on fifth-placed Calverhall, who were looking to remain in contention for the top spot.

The visiting Cae Glas side got off to a good start after winning the toss and inviting their opposition to bat.

From the off, Nathan Bartram and Shaun Southern bowled well with the new ball to make inroads into the home side’s batting order.

Bartram in particular bowled beautifully in taking four for 17 in his eight overs as the home side slipped to 61-6.

Southern also did his bit by dismissing star batsman Yarde, clean bowled for a hard-struck 28.

Bartram was helped in his endeavours by some superb fielding, with Nick Broadbent in particular taking a brilliant catch at square leg to dismiss the dangerous Andy Green, and Elliot Coulson running out Mark Rowe without scoring with a direct hit.

Hope was restored for Calverhall when Oliver Griffiths closed in on a half-century, making 40 runs, but was denied the feat after being caught out by Southern.

A stand of 90 between Griffiths and Ian Millard who managed 42 stabilised things for Calverhall and they closed their scoring on 171, having been bowled out in the 37th over.

Matt Coulson with 2-22 and Ian Holgate with 2-19 mopped up the tail as Cae Glas regained some control.

In reply, the loss of Ian Holgate lbw in the opening over, closely followed by Bobbie Phillips got the visitors off to a poor start.

The task to reach the target set by the hosts was made even more difficult when George Chandler was caught out for eight runs to leave Cae Glas with a mountain to climb.

However, a stand of 39 between Matt Coulson (19) and Andy Griffiths, brought some respectability to the score as Cae Glas reached 102-9 in their 40 overs.

Griffiths held the Cae Glas response together top scoring with 40.

Next week, Cae Glas host Bridgnorth thirds at Gatacre – a team sitting just one place above them, making it a must-win game for the Oswestry side.

Meanwhile, Cae Glas second XI were up against tough opposition in Chirk seconds on the weekend.

The North Wales side sit second in the Shropshire County Cricket League Division Eight, while Cae Glas are in the bottom half of the table.

The home side won the toss and made the visiting Chirk team field.

On a pitch still drying out from the previous week’s rain, Cae Glas, with only eight players, posted 104 all out.

The main contributors were Tim Turner with 37, Ian Moult with a patient 27 and Tim Smith with his usual stylish 16.

It proved to be a difficult afternoon for the remaining batsmen, who really struggled to make an impact on their score, with the highest scorers after Smith managing just two runs.

In reply, Chirk made easy work of the hosts by reaching the target without losing a single wicket.

The partnership of skipper Ian Skinner and Samuel Davies made up a score of 92 between them, which with the help of 14 extras proved to be enough to reach the target in their 22nd over.

Davies’ 54 was his maiden 50, coming at a great time to help his side to a 10-wicket victory. On Saturday, Cae Glas second XI are without a game.

Frankton

FRANKTON first XI came out on top in their Shropshire County Cricket League Division One fixture against mid-table Newtown on the weekend.

Hosts Newtown batted first after being inserted by Frankton.

It was a strong start for Frankton with Jacob Northwood and Brent Doubell catching out top-order batsmen Matthew Knight and captain John Anthony who were dismissed for 18 runs.

David Laird and Ryan Davies were the next pairing to go after they scored 14 and 13, respectively.

Tom Anderson’s 27 seemed to spark a bit of a resurgence for the home team, with a strong innings of 37 immediately afterwards by Sam Norris.

Newtown were all out for 133 as Frankton looked to chase their target.

The opening pair of Ian Whitticase and Doubell took a hit when Whitticase was dismissed for six, however skipper Thomas Wilkie stepped in to score 10 runs alongside Doubell’s 23.

Jason Brookes also scored 10 before George Dickin managed the side’s best score for the afternoon with 41 from 57 balls.

Jordan Parry added 19 not out.

After reaching 136 and losing just six wickets, Frankton reached their target to secure a four-wicket victory.

Frankton are third in the table after their win and remain within touching distance of league leaders Shelton who they face away on Saturday.

Frankton’s second XI faced difficult opposition in Ludlow seconds in their weekend fixture in the Shropshire County Cricket League Division Three.

Ludlow were first up to bat and posted a score which would prove difficult for Frankton to match.

Simon Miles and Luke Hicks led the way for the hosts with 77 and 66, respectively, carrying them towards a score of 225-4 from their 40 overs.

Frankton’s reply was admirable, but they were all out for 185.

An innings of 60 by Grant Mckay was the pick of the bunch with Dave Powell, Cian Jones, Elwyn Jones and Will James all managing respectable scores.

Frankton seconds face Shelton second XI on Saturday.

The club’s third XI were without a game on the weekend and face Madeley thirds on Sunday.

Chirk

A CENTURY for Nicholas Flack inspired Chirk to continue their pursuit of top spot in the Shropshire County Cricket League Division Two with a victory over Wroxeter & Uppington firsts.

Chirk won the toss and elected to bat as they looked to set a target for their struggling visitors who sit just two places above the bottom of the table.

It was a slow start to the afternoon with Ollie Gough making just seven runs before being caught and bowled by Charlie Haylett. However, Flack stepped up in his place and showcased some tremendous batting, hitting 108 from 81 balls, including 13 fours and four sixes.

Shaun Walker partnered Flack at the crease for a while before being taken out after taking 31 runs from 33 balls.

Aside from a Chris Martin half-century, the remaining batsmen for Chirk failed to reach double figures, but the damage had already been done by Flack and the other high scorers to set a target of 235-7.

The away side made an already difficult task even harder when they stepped up to chase the target.

Andrew Swarbrick bowled out Tom Owen with his first ball of the afternoon.

He then took his second wicket eight balls later as he took Adie Eley out for just one run.

Flack brought his batting form through to his bowling as he took Haylett out for four runs.

Skipper Dan Harris and Joe Brown scored 34 and 46 respectively, but the remaining batters failed to match their efforts and fell to a 131-run defeat.

Chirk remain second behind Wellington and take on Forton firsts away on Saturday.

Chirk’s second XI faced Cae Glas seconds in the Shropshire County Cricket League Division Eight. After losing the toss, Chirk were made to field and reduced their opponents to 104-7. Tim Turner’s 37 and captain Ian Moult’s 27 helped Cae Glas to their score.

In reply, Chirk showed their quality as they reached the target without losing a single wicket.

Captain Ian Skinner and Samuel Davies struck up an excellent partnership and managed to reach the target by themselves.

Chirk seconds will be without a fixture on Saturday.

Ellesmere

ELLESMERE are facing the real possibility of relegation from the Shropshire County Cricket League Division One after they lost to Knockin & Kinnerley on Saturday.

The Meresiders were hoping to close the gap on Knockin, who started the day one place above them, but have now climbed to third from bottom.

Ellesmere are 29 points behind at the bottom and will be hoping for an upturn in form coupled with Cound’s downward spiral to have hopes of not returning to Division Two.

Batting first after winning the toss, Ellesmere relied on three scores of 30-plus to guide them to a score of 161 all out in the 45th over.

Wicketkeeper Lee Davis reached 30 before he was trapped lbw by Jonny Evans while skipper Tom Davis led from the front with a fine 39 before he too was dismissed by Evans, stumped by Jamie Birch.

Ashley Thomas also smashed a 30 before he was bowled by Deon Biggs.

Evans, a fifth-change bowler, finished with figures of 6-35, while Ellesmere were aided by 29 extras.

Any hopes of an early breakthrough for Ellesmere soon evaporated as Knockin’s opening pair put on 139 for the first wicket.

Lloyd Edwards smashed a sensational 90 with 10 fours and five sixes, while Thomas Dix watched on as three more came and went without adding much.

Dix saw Knockin over the line for a six-wicket win, finishing 53 not out.

Thomas and George Duncan took two wickets apiece, and Ellesmere will hope for better on Saturday when they host Beacon.

The second XI’s home clash with Quayside was called off but the sides are scheduled to face one another in a reverse fixture on Saturday, while the third XI lost at home to Bomere Heath.