Oswestry

OSWESTRY Cricket Club were set to face Wolverhampton firsts on Saturday, but a Covid-19-related incident meant the Birmingham League would not allow the fixture to be played.

As a result, the Bordermen remain second from bottom in the Birmingham & District Premier Cricket League GWT Group One table.

The next scheduled fixture for Oswestry is set to take place on Saturday when they welcome Bridgnorth to Morda Road.

Bridgnorth’s Saturday fixture with Shrewsbury was also cancelled.

In the meantime, Oswestry’s second XI was in action as they travelled to face Cound in the Shropshire County Cricket League Shrewsbury and West Division Two.

Batting first, Oswestry started strong with Tim Bierley scoring patient runs, despite Henry Walker’s early dismissal after five runs.

It was Sam Davies who stole the weekend’s headlines bludgeoning an undefeated 134.

Davies was joined by Owen Aspinall who scored 31 to give his side an extra boost, but it was Davies’ heroics which caught the eyes of spectators.

In response, Cound’s Graham Trow opened with a half century, while fellow top order Dan Tudor was out for a duck.

Replacing him was Ryan Ashton who scored a steady 30, before Gabriel Williams later scored 32 not out.

However some consistent bowling saw five Oswestry bowlers take a wicket each, as they were able to restrict Cound to 164-5 from their 40 overs, securing a 72-run victory.

An impressive win spearheaded by Davies puts Oswestry third in the table after seven matches.

On Saturday, they are set to face Shelton seconds away.

Sunday saw Oswestry’s third XI in action as they beat Frankton thirds by two wickets.

They are set to host Whitchurch’s third XI on Sunday.

Chirk

DESPITE some high-quality bowling from Chirk’s Billy Swarbrick, the first XI fell short against Bomere Heath on Saturday.

The Colliers came away with a 32 run defeat after an evenly fought game.

Billy Swarbrick took four wickets as his side took out Bomere for 140.

But a slow start in response for Chirk made the target set by their hosts seem more difficult to reach.

Chirk found themselves 24-2 after Gareth Partridge (9) and Shaun Walker (6) were dismissed early in the innings.

James Carter added 16 before he was trapped lbw by Harry Bolland, and Nick Flack went soon after with 11.

Late runs from Andrew Swarbrick (24) and Billy Swarbrick (12) gave Chirk some hope but wickets fell quickly around them as their side finished with a total of 108 all out.

They remain second in the Shropshire County Cricket League John Rees Division One table and face league leaders Newtown at home on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Chirk seconds lost by four wickets at home to Welshpool seconds.

They face Pontesbury seconds away on Saturday.

Frankton

FRANKTON’S defeat at home to Wellington on Saturday made it eight straight defeats for the north Shropshire side in the Shropshire County Cricket League Premier Division Mike Robinson Group.

Unbeaten league leaders Wellington picked up a six wicket victory after a late collapse of the Frankton batting order.

It was a strong start for the hosts with Ian Whitticase (27) and Sam Todd (19) scoring well early in the afternoon, before Thomas Wilkie added 17 and Jordan Parry added valuable runs.

Parry remained at the crease for the rest of the afternoon as wickets fell around him, with four of the last six batsmen to step up for Frankton failing to score a run.

Finishing on 134-9, Frankton were hoping to restrict the league leaders as they stepped up to bat, but top orders Mat Batkin (33) and Tom Masters (23) started well for the visitors.

Steady runs followed and Ben Byram’s 26, coupled with Sam Bloor’s 31 not out, meant Wellington had reached Frankton’s target.

Frankton will face Shrewsbury seconds at home on Saturday.

There was a big win for Frankton’s second XI on Saturday as they beat Cae Glas by eight wickets.

Dave Powell and Jason Brookes scored 30 each to help their side to the win.

It was Frankton’s fourth league win of the season, putting them fourth in the Shropshire County Cricket League North table.

On Saturday, Frankton seconds travel to Acton Reynald.

Frankton’s third XI suffered a narrow two wicket defeat at Oswestry thirds on Sunday.

They will be in action again on Sunday when they host Knockin & Kinnerley’s third XI.

Knockin & Kinnerley

A SEVENTH consecutive defeat for Knockin & Kinnerley on Saturday means they remain at the foot of the Shropshire County Cricket League John Rees Division One table.

After winning the toss and choosing to bat against Alberbury, only Andy Beckett (24) and Shaun Davis (33) were able to break into double figures, as Knockin struggled to a total of 99 all out to defend.

Alberbury’s Ieuan Griffiths proved to be a thorn in the side of Knockin, as he took five wickets during an excellent performance.

In response, Alberbury veteran Mark Jones (35no) and Andrew Wynne (20no) led the way as their side claimed a comfortable seven wicket victory, reaching the target after losing just three wickets.

Knockin will face Bomere Heath at home on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Knockin seconds lost by just one wicket away at Alberbury seconds.

They remain in third place in the Shropshire County Cricket League Border division and make the trip to Cae Glas seconds on Saturday.

Cae Glas

CAE Glas remain bottom of the Shropshire County Cricket League North division after suffering an eight wicket defeat at home to Frankton.

After being put in to bat first, Cae Glas struggled to find any momentum with the bat, and went on to lose a total of six wickets for no runs.

Overnight rain made for tricky batting conditions, and the home side were soon in trouble losing Dave Edwards and Andy Griffiths who were both dismissed without scoring a run.

The early dismissals set the pattern for the innings, with only Barry Richards and skipper Pete Bowyer making double figures and only a patient tenth wicket stand of 41 between Bowyer and Nick Broadbent saved complete embarrassment as Cae Glas were dismissed for 78.

Pick of the Frankton attack were Connor Bell with 3-16 in his eight overs and Eddie Wainwright who took four wickets for as many runs in his eight-over spell.

In reply, Gary Davies started well taking two wickets for one run in his six over opening spell, but patient batting from Dave Powell and Jamie Brookes saw the visitors home.

Each scored 30 runs as they eased to a comfortable eight-wicket victory with eight overs to spare.

The result means it is now seven defeats from seven matches for the season as Cae Glas continue to look for a win.

They will travel to Iscoyd & Fenns Bank on Saturday.

It was an equally miserable afternoon for Cae Glas’ second team who lost by 172 runs away at Pontesbury second XI.

Batting first, Pontesbury raced to a total of 257-5 from their 40 overs.

Cae Glas had the hosts wobbling at 20-2, but Phil Hartshorn (37) and Darrell Corfield (27) steadied the ship.

Jake Edwards hit 21 not out, but the star of the show was Corfield with a hard hitting 101 not out – his ton coming off the last ball of the innings.

Simon Dean was the only real threat for the Cae Glas attack with 3-19 off his eight overs.

In reply Cae Glas struggled against accurate bowling and only Ian Moult (25) and Shaun Southern (15) reached double figures, the innings ending on 85 all out.

Wickets were shared between the Pontesbury bowlers with Daniel Lakelin 3-22 and Louise Pugh 2-21.

Cae Glas seconds are without a win and remain bottom of the Shropshire County Cricket League Border division ahead of the visit of Knockin seconds on Saturday.

Ellesmere

ELLESMERE were narrowly beaten away at Sentinel seconds on Saturday with just 21 runs separating the sides’ scores at the end of the afternoon.

Despite bowler Bradley Chapman being in top form for Ellesmere, a strong start with the bat for Sentinel made up for lost runs later in the afternoon for the hosts.

Malcolm Serplet (56) and Tom Matthews (39) were the top scorers for the home side, but later in the innings, Chapman was able to take out much of the middle order, as he claimed four wickets throughout the match.

In reply to Sentinel’s target of 184-9, Ellesmere’s Lee Davis hit 70, helped by Fraser Duncan and Felix Ashley with 13 each.

However, the rest of the batsmen failed to pick up important runs as Ellesmere finished their innings on 163 all out.

The result means Ellesmere stay bottom of the Shropshire County Cricket League Shrewsbury and West Division Two table.

They will host Cound in their next fixture on Saturday.