Oswestry Cricket Club hit the ground running in front of a large home crowd as the Birmingham and District Premier League got underway on Saturday.

The Bordermen overcame county rivals Shifnal by 55 runs under the Duckworth Lewis rules in what ended up being a rain-interrupted fixture at Morda Road.

After losing the toss, Oswestry posted a creditable score of 201-5 from their allotted 40 overs.

Ollie Clarke and Josh Darley, in the absence of skipper, Warwick Fynn, set Oswestry on their way, putting on 68 for the first wicket, before Clarke fell to his brother and Oswestry old boy Xavier for a well-made 37.

Darley followed soon after for a patient 26.

A fine third wicket partnership of 112 between Mattie Richards (29) and Roman Walker (81) saw the home side move through the gears.

Walker, who survived an early chance when dropped at mid-off, was in blistering form as he stroked the ball to all corners of the ground.

Josh Coleridge added a quick fire 15 at the end of proceedings

Set to score a revised target figure of 183 off 33 overs, the chase was on as ex-county skipper Steve Leach looked in ominous form, before being trapped LBW by young opening bowler, Alex Selby for 24.

Both Selby and Ben Roberts who spearheaded the Oswestry attack bowled well in the wet conditions .

Chad Brandrick and Xavier Clarke, back on home soil and timing the ball well, maintained the scoring rate before seamer Chris Cathrall struck in quick succession, removing both Brandrick and Clarke for 31 and 33 runs respectively.

Former Oswestry skipper, Robbie Clarke who also joined the Priorslee club shortly before lockdown quickly departed soon afterwards falling LBW to Cathrall.

When county player Jack Edwards was caught behind off the bowling of Cathrall for 12, as the visitors slipped to 127-5, Oswestry were suddenly ahead of the run rate with the weather closing in.

Just after 6pm, the rains arrived, after which there was no more play in what had been an absorbing first competitive match of the season, following the long awaited return of cricket.

Cathrall finished with the impressive figures of 4-33 off his seven overs.

Oswestry took four points from the match and bragging rights when to Ollie in the Clarke household as he overcame brothers Robbie and Xavie.

Next up for Oswestry is a trip to face Bridgnorth away on Saturday.