Oswestry

OSWESTRY are back on top of the Birmingham League Premier Division Two, following a crushing seven-wicket victory over bottom-of-the-table Brockhampton at the Stonehouse Oval.

It was another stellar bowling performance from overseas professional, Larry Samarakoon who took his fifth successive five-wicket haul to help skittle out the Herefordshire side for just 66.

After Roman Walker and Ben Roberts had reduced the visitors to 19-3, Samarakoon dismissed opener Ollie Rogoff for 19, smartly taken at first slip by Warrick Fynn.

Bowling fast, full and straight on a wicket offering little assistance, Samarakoon ran through Brockhampton’s mid and late order, returning figures of 5-6 in 7.2 overs.

The Badgers were bowled out in the 26th over with Walker picking up two wickets. There was one wicket each for Roberts – who also claimed a run out – and Fynn.

The Sri Lankan’s stock continues to rise – he has now taken 29 wickets in his last five games and is among the Birmingham League’s leading wicket takers.

Oswestry in reply made light work of reaching their total, despite losing three late wickets with Fynn top scoring on 36.

The Bordermen’s restoration to pole position which continues to change from week to week, was in no small measure due to the sterling work of groundsman, Dave Vart and his team.

The outfield had been under water 24 hours previously following heavy rains.

Gallons of water had to be pumped away to ensure the game went ahead, with the start remarkably being delayed by only half an hour.

Defeat consigns Brockhampton, who were clearly missing Worcestershire stalwart Darryl Mitchell, and Australian under-19 all-rounder Parman Uppal – to relegation to the Worcestershire County League with four games still to go.

It is only two seasons ago that Brockhampton were playing in the top-flight of Birmingham League cricket where they had enjoyed a number of years of success.

Oswestry, in the meantime, will hope to strengthen their position at the top of the table when they visit Tamworth on Saturday.

The Staffordshire side are too all-but mathematically down.

However, skipper Dean Suter will be warning his side against any complacency as the quest for promotion continues.

Just nine points now separate the top four sides in the tightest of races which will almost certainly go down to the last day of the season when Oswestry are at Harborne who are currently lying in third position.

Oswestry seconds won by five wickets in their weekend fixture with Harpers first XI.

Josh Coleridge’s 62 runs was the highlight of the afternoon as Oswestry chased down the target of 144.

Oswestry seconds also remain top of their division and will look to further solidify their position when they host Quatt seconds on Saturday.

Frankton

FRANKTON first XI picked up a 53-run victory against Knockin & Kinnerley firsts on Saturday in the Shropshire County Cricket League Division One to stay hot on the trail of league leaders Shelton firsts.

Batting first, Frankton put together a respectable total of 168-8 for their struggling opposition to chase down.

A solid innings of 42 runs for Ian Whitticase proved to be the best score of the day, with Jordan Parry’s 31 later in the afternoon pushing the side on towards their eventual target.

Lawrence Hitchin performed well for Knockin, as he took three wickets.

In reply, Knockin were never really able to build momentum with some excellent bowling by Frankton restricting them to 113 all out.

Stuart Lammie was able to take three wickets, with Tom Cockayne and James Wigley taking two apiece.

Frankton had Knockin at 60-8, before a late 46 from David Ogden helped to boost the home team’s score.

The win means Frankton are still just 10 points adrift of league leaders Shelton, who they face on the second to last day of the season.

Next up for Frankton firsts is a home game against Beacon firsts, before a trip away to face struggling Ellesmere.

Meanwhile, Frankton seconds lost by six runs at home against Wellington third XI.

Frankton elected to field and reduced their visitors to 120 all out.

Top order Duncan Taylor high-scored for Wellington with 27.

Frankton looked in a good position to push on for the win as they went in to bat, but a good display of bowling by Wellington meant they fell just short of their target.

Josh McDonald and Kamal Aluthgedara took three wickets apiece as they reduced Frankton to 114 all out.

Jack Hutchinson’s late 29 not out was an exciting watch for spectators as the game hung in the balance, but it was not to be for the Frankton men.

Frankton seconds face Hodnet, Peplow and Tibberton first XI on Saturday.

Frankton’s third XI faced Alderbury thirds and picked up a 27-run win.

They will return to action on Sunday when they host Wem thirds.

Knockin & Kinnerley

DESPITE restricting league hopefuls Frankton to 166, Knockin & Kinnerley first XI were unable to come away with the win from their Shropshire County Cricket League Division One game on Saturday.

Lawrence Hitchin took three of the eight Frankton wickets which fell throughout their 45 overs, with Joel Whitehouse taking two. Ian Whitticase’s 42 runs were the highlight of the Frankton innings.

In reply, Knockin lost regular wickets, but a ninth wicket stand of 53 between David Ogden and Ronnie Biggs helped them up to a score of 113. Ogden made 46 including five huge maximums, but it was not enough to get the victory.

Knockin firsts face Bridgnorth second XI at home on Saturday.

Knockin seconds made the short trip to Isotope Park to take on Alberbury.

The visitors made an early breakthrough with the wicket of the dangerous Joss Elliott thanks to a diving catch from Joe Kynaston. Dave Butler made 32, but Knockin took wickets at regular intervals to dismiss Alberbury for 76.

In reply, double-figure contributions came from Paul Holyoake, Andy Beckett, and Eric Heath, and Kynaston made an unbeaten 20 to steer Knockin home by six wickets, and give their survival hopes a boost.

Knockin face Beacon seconds away on Saturday.

On Sunday, Knockin third XI hosted Pontesbury thirds, as they looked to build on last week’s win.

Pontesbury made an early break through with Jake Edwards (2-31) bowling Mac Niddrie-Davies. Fellow opener Terry Mutton (49) built the foundations for a good score, with a partnership of 63 runs with Joe Kynaston, 34.

Knockin finished the 40 overs with 208-4, with Grant Tunnadine (50 not out), top scoring for the home side.

After Tea, Matt Tunnadine (2-27) got an early break through, bowling Pontesbury opener John Morris for 7, back up by Joe Kynaston bowling a spell of 1-12 from seven overs. Captain Gaz Downes, 30, and wicket-keeper Chris Edwards, 52, then frustrated the home bowling with a partnership of 75 runs, before Downes was caught by James Mullock, bowled Eric Heath (1-17).

A brilliant spell of four overs from Niddrie-Davies (4-9) reduced Pontesbury to finish on 164-8. Wicket Keeper Gary Darlington claiming three stumpings. Knockin claimed a winning draw, picking up 17 points.

Cae Glas

CAE Glas dominated their bottom-of-the-table clash against fellow Shropshire County Cricket League Division Four strugglers Church Stretton at Gatacre on Saturday.

Invited to bat, the visitors struggled against accurate spells from both Gareth Edgerton and Gary Davies. Edgeton returned figures of 0-11 from his nine overs and Davies 0-14 from 11 overs.

The star of the show however was Dave Edwards who took 5-29 off his 10 overs, ably supported by the consistent Matt Coulson who returned figures of 4-16.

Only skipper Pete Lee provided any real resistance with a dogged 45 as the visitors were dismissed for 96.

In reply, Edgerton capped an excellent all-round performance with 34 not out, as Cae Glas reached their total for the loss of three wickets.

Only former Cae Glas skipper Keith Yapp made any impression as he took all three wickets to fall finishing with figures of 3-21.

The visitors cause was not helped by conceding 34 extras as Cae Glas cantered to victory with 13 overs to spare.

Cae Glas seconds faced a tough trip to Shropshire County Cricket League Division Eight leaders Beacon and found themselves batting first on a low, slow strip.

Beacon showed why they have only lost two games all season with a strong bowling performance that made run scoring very difficult.

Elliot Coulson and Tim Smith scored 13 and 12, respectively, and only Shaun Southerns late 28 not out allowed Cae Glas to post 87-8 off 35 overs.

Among some impressive bowling figures Tim Cliffe 3-15 and Luke Bedford 2-11 stood out.

With a low score to defend and with only a win or loss, there was only one option but to take wickets.

Alex Carters three wickets in an over was a great start, two wickets for Simon Dean and one for Tarik Bodasign, courtesy of a great catch by Nick Chesters, were a good return for a positive effort.

However, Luke Bedford continued his excellent game with a comfortable 42 as Beacon won by four wickets with plenty of overs in hand to strengthen their lead at the top of the table and despite the loss Cae Glas moved up a place to fifth.

The seconds are without a game on Saturday before a mid-table clash at Condover on Saturday, August 31.

Ellesmere

ELLESMERE moved a step closer to relegation from the Shropshire Cricket League Division One after they were beaten at home by Alberbury.

Skipper Tom Davies won the toss and gave his side the chance to chase a score and would have been happy with his bowlers’ work as Alberbury were bowled out for 118 in the 45th over.

Ellesmere made in-roads into the Alberbury innings as George Duncan and Ashley Thomas took the three early wickets of Dominic Zaza, Michael Crawshaw and Mark Jones.

But Jordan Zaza fought back hard for Alberbury as he posted a fine half-century, scoring 54 before he was caught by Matthew Lawrenson off Davies’s bowling.

But Ellesmere continued to chip at away at the Alberbury order as Thomas dismissed Naveen Hari and Sam Morris cheaply in the middle order, as Felix Ashley also took the wicket of Sahim Zaza for one.

James Harrap smashed a counter-attacking 17 before he was caught and bowled by Davies.

Davies and Thomas took three wickets apiece while Duncan finished with 2-15 from 14 overs.

Lawrenson also grabbed a wicket.

In reply, Ellesmere got off to a nightmare start as Davies and Sam Budd were both dismissed for ducks while Jonathan Mitchell was caught by Mark Jones off Sam Morris’s bowling, while Oliver Corbett bowled Graeme Cowey for two.

Lawrenson fought back hard for Ellesmere as he scored 35, while he was supported by Felix Ashley’s 23 as the Meremen came close to chasing down their visitors.

However, Max Smith, Thomas and George Duncan were all dismissed cheaply as Ellesmere were bowled out for 103 in the 41st over.

On Saturday, the first XI will travel to Cound for a 1pm start.

Meanwhile, the second XI conceded their clash with Division Seven leaders Llanidloes.

Ellesmere third XI remain bottom of the Shropshire County Cricket League Sunday Division Two after losing to Knockin & Kinnerley fours away.

Knockin won by 22 runs after restricting Ellesmere to 124.

And the thirds will face second-from-bottom side Madeley fours away on Sunday.

Chirk

CHIRK’S promotion hopes took another blow on Saturday after they were beaten by third-placed Worfield seconds.

Having beaten league leaders Wellington seconds last month, Chirk looked in the driver’s seat to gain promotion, however they have failed to win a game since then after two cancellations and two defeats.

After inserting their visitors, Chirk’s bowlers began well with Andrew Swarbrick taking three wickets at the expense of just three runs.

The tables turned however when Worfield’s Nick Hudson entered the frame and looked unstoppable, making 93 runs before being dismissed. Hudson’s innings proved damaging for Chirk who had a target of 151-9 to chase.

In reply, Gareth Partridge was trapped lbw for Chirk without making a run while Chris Martin was also dismissed in the same way. James Carter high-scored for Chirk with 37, but a poor display of batting from the side saw them all out for 127.

Bowler Will McGarry for Worfield was in fine form as he took five wickets.

Chirk take on Acton Reynald firsts away on Saturday.

It was a contrasting weekend for Chirk seconds who claimed a 117-run victory over hosts Albrighton second XI in the Shropshire County Cricket League Division Eight.

Chirk’s win keeps the pressure on league leaders Beacon who still hold a 27 point lead.

Dale Randall high-scored for Chirk with 64 while Samuel Davies performed well to take four wickets during Albrighton’s reply.

There is no fixture for Chirk seconds on Saturday. They return to action on August 31 when they travel to Condover seconds.