Cae Glas

THE result will not have been the most important thing in the world for Cae Glas as their players, like many across the county, returned to the field for their long-awaited first game of the season.

With uncertainty surrounding the competition for months, teams returned to play at the weekend under a new format which means reduced league sizes and smaller distances to travel for away matches.

Cae Glas got their season first XI got things underway with a home defeat against fellow border side Iscoyd & Fenns Bank.

The visitors had more to smile about at the end of the day after a 43-run victory at Gatacre, with much of the home team’s success down to a stellar bowling performance from Duncan Wright who took five wickets to mark his return to the field.

The performance of the visitors took no shine off what was a promising batting display from Cae Glas’ Ruchira Bandarage who fell just one run short of a half-century.

Aside from Bandarage’s efforts, the Cae Glas batting team failed to string together a series of good runs, and as a result fell short of the 166/5 total posted by Iscoyd.

Cae Glas firsts next face a short trip to Frankton’s second XI on Saturday.

Saturday also marked the start of the season for Cae Glas’ second team, who also suffered defeat away at Knockin & Kinnerley’s second XI.

Knockin batted first, with Paul Holyoake scoring a personal best of 80.

Scott Howsley scored a brisk 33, Rufus Farmer a classy 39 including two huge sixes and Matthew Tunnadine 30, all of which helped them to 269 all out.

The Cae Glas bowlers all toiled but with some success, Simon Dean took 2-27, Tarik Bodasing 3-36 and Shaun Southern 3-50.

The two debutants Matt Wedderkopp and Kevin McDade also bowled well but with little luck.

In reply Cae Glas found it a lot tougher against the speedy young Knockin bowlers.

Tim Smith and Southern reached double figures, while Dean who ended up bruised but undefeated on 27 not out.

Seven Knockin bowlers took one wicket each as Cae Glas ended their 40 overs on 95-8, a little way short of their target, but at least not all out.

On Saturday, Cae Glas seconds are at home to Pontesbury seconds.

Frankton

FRANKTON’S first team marked their return to cricket with a defeat in what was a tough fixture against Shrewsbury’s second XI.

After winning the toss, the Shrewsbury men elected to bat and wasted no time in putting together some runs.

A formidable partnership of Harry Cooke and Lewis Evans put together a huge 180 runs before Sam Todd caught out Evans.

It looked as though Cooke was heading for a century in the first game of the season, but with four runs to go Thomas Wilkie took his only catch of the day to stop him in his tracks on 96 runs.

Thomas Dix’s 12 runs meant the hosts finished their 40 overs with 259 runs.

Frankton looked for a strong response, but lost their top order batting duo of George Dickin and Todd for just two runs.

However, Scott Dale made amends for the early dismissals as he hit 64, including 10 fours, from 91 balls.

Bradley Thornton added nine alongside Dale before his dismissal, but things then suddenly got worse for Frankton as Cooke, who performed well with the bat for Shrewsbury, showed his bowling expertise taking two golden ducks in succession.

Cian Jones and Jordan Parry were both dismissed for no runs, before Shrewsbury’s James Coggins took four consecutive wickets, including three ducks, losing 37 runs.

The visiting Frankton side finished on 141 all out, falling short of the target posted by the hosts.

Frankton firsts travel to face Wellington first XI on Saturday in the Premier Division Mike Robinson Group.

The second XI for Frankton also returned to action on Saturday as they lost by three wickets to Acton Reynald firsts.

After electing to bat, Frankton posted a target of 138 all out for Acton Reynald, with Dave Powell’s 43 being the biggest contribution from the Frankton batsmen.

Sam Cotter took five wickets for the visiting side to stop the hosts from gaining any momentum.

Cotter was the main man again when his side stepped up to the crease to bat, with 35 runs.

His side reached the target after losing seven wickets.

Frankton seconds host Cae Glas first XI on Saturday.

Ellesmere

ELLESMERE Cricket Club’s first XI began their campaign in the Shrewsbury and West Division Two with a win away at Cound firsts.

The visitors won the toss and elected to field, managing to take six wickets as Cound posted a target of 232.

Batters Graham Trow and Dan Tudor set the hosts on their way to a good target with the duo scoring 154 runs between them before Ellesmere’s Dan Harrington caught Trow for 95.

Tudor scored a patient 44 from 70 balls, as Craig Kinsey (0) and Henry Cooper (20) had their wickets fall in quick succession.

Adam Williams added another 27 runs for Cound later in the afternoon as they completed their 40 overs losing six wickets.

With a target of 232/6 to chase, the Ellesmere batsmen had a slow start, losing three wickets after 28 runs.

But Jack Cockayne’s impressive 85 runs allowed them to close in on the target, as he was helped along the way by Harrington, with 12 runs, and Kieran Barry with 40.

Ashley Thomas added 46 later in the afternoon and helped his side to 233, with his side taking the win by three wickets.

Ellesmere first XI host Sentinel seconds on Saturday.

Sunday saw the return of Ellesmere’s third XI as they visited Knockin & Kinnerley third XI.

A huge 10-wicket victory was taken by Ellesmere, after top orders Peter Beavan and Tom Appleyard put together 121 runs to surpass Knockin’s 117 all out target, without losing a single wicket. The thirds face Whitchurch third XI away on Sunday.

Chirk

CHIRK opened their Shropshire League One campaign with a two-wicket defeat away at Newtown.

The hosts, who chose to field first, got off to a quick start with Chirk’s Ollie Gough bowled for a duck before Gareth Partridge (10) fell to David Anthony.

James Carter and and Nick Flack built the Chirk innings as the middle order worked the scoreboard.

Carter was caught LBW for 29 and Flack was then caught by Sam Cooke for 26.

Shaun Walker was caught by Sam Morris for 13 while Sam Davies was taken out after making one run, and Mark Shaw was caught for 28.

After Andrew Swarbrick’s wicket fell, Wynn Jones (24 not out) and Billy Swarbrick (7 not out) guided Chirk to 158-8 to defend.

Newtown stuttered in reply with John Anthony trapped LBW for a duck by Andrew Swarbrick (1-22) before Sam Morris was caught by Shaw off for seven.

Ryan Davies (11) was snared LBW and Tom Anderson (16) by Flack, before Tom Foulkes joined Ricky Davies to form a fifth-wicket stand.

The pair combined to work the scoreboard and push the home side toward their target before Davies was caught for 37.

The tail end wobbled as Billy Swarbrick (2-30) trapped Cooke LBW for four while Gardner (3-35) toppled Ally Laird and Monk cheaply.

However Newtown were not to be denied as Davies (8 not out) joined Foulkes (41 not out) in guiding Newtown to 159-8 and victory in the 38th over.

Chirk face Bomere Heath firsts at home on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Chirk's second XI faced Pontesbury seconds on Saturday, and came away with a 49-run victory.

Dale Randall's performance was the highlight as he hit a century for Chirk.

The seconds face Welshpool seconds away on Saturday.

Knockin & Kinnerley

AN AFTERNOON in which Knockin & Kinnerley Cricket Club first XI struggled to get going with the bat resulted in a seven-wicket defeat against Bomere Heath firsts to start the season.

After they loss the toss and were made to bat first, the top order pairing of Joe Kynaston and Jak Jones struggled to get into the swing of things, but still managed 65 runs from 122 balls before Jones was dismissed.

Kynaston followed two runs later, before Knockin saw four batsmen dismissed for a duck, courtesy of Harry Bolland and Matt Jones.

Bolland took five wickets throughout the afternoon, while Jones claimed four.

The duos impeccable bowling proved to be a thorn in the side of the Knockin batters, with only Rob Ford able to put on 15 runs and Marcus Williams adding three.

Their 18 runs were followed by three more dismissals without a single run being made, leaving the visiting Knockin side on a score of 88 all out.

Bomere’s response saw the opening pairing of Jones and Henry Preece hit 57 before losing their first wicket, sending the side well on their way to the total for the afternoon.

Preece was dismissed while Jones continued to score runs at a steady pace.

Ben Cox joined Jones momentarily, adding a further seven runs to the total, before Jones finished things off and took his side to 89 runs for the afternoon, handing them a comfortable victory.

On Saturday, Knockin travel to take on Alderbury firsts.

Meanwhile, Knockin’s second XI overcame Cae Glas seconds in their season opener.

Knockin seconds will host Alderbury seconds on Saturday.