Oswestry

A STUNNING half-century from Oswestry’s Josh Coleridge paved the way for an exciting three-wicket victory over Birmingham League and county rivals, Bridgnorth, at Morda Road on Saturday.

The young wicket keeper and batsman joined skipper Warrick Fynn with the scoreboard on 65-2 as the home side chased down Bridgnorth’s total of 160.

With work still to be done, Fynn and Coleridge rapidly added 61 runs for the third wicket, before Fynn was deceived in the flight by left arm spinner, Sam Baugh and bowled for a busy 47, made off 58 balls.

Ben Roberts promoted up the order, also fell to Baugh, being clean bowled after an attempted sweep.

Victory was in sight for Oswestry as Coleridge and the vice-captain Alex Davidson took the score to 140 before Coleridge was caught in the deep by Baugh off the bowling of county leg spinner, Sam Whitney.

Coleridge’s innings of 52 came off just 38 balls.

It included four fours and five sixes as the Oswestry batsman peppered the leg-side boundary.

Matty Simmonds, the Shropshire off-spinner, could not contain the young stroke maker.

The dismissal of Davidson and then Chris Catherall left Oswestry still 13 runs short of victory with only three wickets left, as tension mounted.

From a seemingly impregnable position of 126-2, Oswestry had lost five wickets for just 22 runs, but youngsters Matty Davies and Owen Aspinall held their nerve, guiding the Bordermen home with 5.5 overs to spare.

Earlier, Oswestry had done well to restrict the South Shropshire side to 160 following a fine spell of opening bowling by Roberts and the promising Alex Selby as the visitors were reduced to 55-3 off 20 overs.

Simmonds (22), Smallman (32) and Baugh (19) all contributed to the Bridgnorth cause but the final total was always under par against an accurate and disciplined Oswestry attack.

Roberts (2-22), Fynn (2-32) and Catherall (2-24) were Oswestry’s main wicket takers.

Oswestry travel to near neighbours, Wem, this Saturday for their final Birmingham League game of this shortened season, hoping to chalk up their fifth victory of the campaign which would be a very creditable return for Fynn’s young side.

Meanwhile, Oswestry seconds suffered a 73-run defeat away at Shelton seconds on Saturday, and Oswestry thirds lost by four wickets to Whitchurch thirds.

Cae Glas

CAE Glas managed to avoid creating a new club record on Saturday by avoiding defeat as they triumphed over a strong Fenns Bank side at Iscoyd Park.

Having won the toss, home skipper Tom Lea backed his strong batting line up to blast Cae Glas out of the game early, but it was not to be.

Cae Glas’s opening bowlers Nathan Bartram and George Jones bowled tightly to frustrate the Fenns batsmen, with Jones taking 1-20 in his eight-over spell and Bartram 2-30.

Tom Wynne took the attack to the visitors as he plundered 72 in a stylish knock but the introduction of left-arm off spinner Chris Sproulle proved pivotal, as he took 4-42 off his eight overs including removing Wynne and danger man Tom Lea in a great spell of attacking spin bowling.

He was supported by Nick Broadbent who bowled with little luck to take 1-34 off his eight overs as Fenns were dismissed for 148 in the 33rd over.

In reply a couple of early wickets suggested that Cae Glas’s dismal form was going to continue, but Ruch Nimantha took control in a superb innings of 81 to take the initiative away from the home side.

His partnership of 62 with Matt Coulson proved pivotal, but when Nimantha was dismissed with nine runs still needed, the immediate loss of Jones for a duck caused a few flutters in Cae Glas stomachs.

But Gary Davies saw the visitors home as Cae Glas eased to their target with eight balls to spare, to win by four wickets.

The win ends a winless run of seven games for Cae Glas firsts who remain bottom of the Shropshire County League North table.

They face Calverhall firsts at home on Saturday.

Cae Glas seconds winless run continued as they suffered an eighth consecutive defeat at home to Knockin & Kinnerley seconds.

A cautious start paid dividends as Simon Dean (25) and Andy Kemp (53no) put on a century partnership for the first wicket, but Knockin fought back well to keep Cae Glas’s total to 153-4 off their 40 overs.

Richard Williams started well with 22, but soon Knockin were in trouble at 38-3, however Jack Tinney (45no) and Grant Tunnadine (54no) put on their own unbeaten century partnership to see Knockin home with overs to spare.

Shaun Southern took 2-23.

Cae Glas second XI face Welshpool seconds away on Saturday, and remain bottom of the Shropshire County League Border division.

Knockin & Kinnerley

KNOCKIN & Kinnerley first XI were on the wrong end of a 133-run loss on Saturday against Bomere Heath firsts.

Bomere Heath won the toss and decided to bat first, which proved to be a good decision as Henry Preece made a great start alongside fellow top order Harry Bolland.

Preece eventually reached 70 runs to become top scorer for his team on the afternoon, and later efforts from Harry Gregson (27) and Chris Stevens (33) resulted in a total of 199-4 for the visitors.

With a difficult target to chase, Knockin’s slow start proved to be a problem as they lost their opening four wickets for 26 runs.

Shaun Davis’ 15 provided a small bit of resistance, but his team was all out for 66 to confirm a big victory for Bomere Heath.

Knockin firsts remain winless and bottom of the Shropshire County Cricket League John Rees Division One table.

They play against Pontesbury firsts away on Saturday.

Knockin’s second XI were also in action on Saturday, but came away with a better result as they beat Cae Glas second XI by seven wickets.

Jack Tinney (45 not out) and Grant Tunnadine (54 not out) struck up an impressive partnership to help their side to victory.

They sit third in the Shropshire County Cricket League Border division table and host Pontesbury seconds on Saturday.

Knockin’s third XI suffered a 24-run loss at Frankton thirds on Sunday.

Their next match will see them take on Oswestry’s third XI at home on Sunday.

And Knockin fourth team also tasted defeat on Sunday when they lost by six wickets at home to Ellesmere third XI.

They will take on Whitchurch thirds away on Sunday.

Ellesmere

ELLESMERE enjoyed a comfortable nine wicket victory at home to Cound on Saturday.

It was a miserable afternoon for the visitors, with Dan Tudor top-scoring with 18 runs for the side.

The remainder of the batting order failed to break into double figures, and lost a total of four batsmen for no runs during the afternoon.

Bowling for Ellesmere, Felix Ashley impressed by taking four wickets during his eight overs.

In reply, Jonathan Mitchell was the standout performer for Ellesmere with 43 not out, as he almost single-handedly reached Cound’s target.

He was helped along the way by George Duncan (1) and Simon Rickett (9no).

The win puts Ellesmere fourth in the Shropshire County League Shrewsbury and West Division Two table and host Shelton seconds on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Ellesmere thirds picked up a six wicket victory away at Knockin fourth XI.

They remain bottom of the Shropshire County League Sunday North and North West table and travel to Frankton thirds on Sunday.

Frankton

A WINLESS run of eight games came to an end on Saturday as Frankton’s overcame Shrewsbury seconds.

Frankton had Sam Todd to thank as he led the chase of Shrewsbury’s 158-8 target by posting a score of 68.

Also an important part of the victory was Thomas Welti who took a hat-trick of wickets.

Shrewsbury performed well with the bat as Llyr Thomas (24), Harry Wassell (26) and Tom Somerville (30) contributed but it was the slow start which saw the visitors lose opener Jon Anders for a duck.

In reply, Frankton’s Todd was supported well by Thomas Wilkie (20), before Jordan Parry’s 28 not out helped his side to reach the target and secure their first win of the season.

Frankton remain bottom of the Shropshire County League Premier Division Mike Robinson Group table and travel to Whitchurch on Saturday.

Frankton seconds lost by four wickets to Acton Reynald’s and Frankton thirds won by 23 runs against Knockin third XI.

Chirk

A TOP performance with the bat and ball for Andrew Swarbrick was not enough to hand his Chirk team the victory against Newtown on Saturday.

Although the Chirk skipper scored 42 runs and took four wickets, his team lost by two wickets against a strong Newtown side.

Batting first, Ollie Gough (11) and James Carter (17) got runs on the board early in the game, but Nick Flack and Samuel Davies were both dismissed for a duck to make life difficult for the hosts.

Andrew Swarbrick’s 42 and Mark Shaw’s 25 made things harder for Newtown, but Chirk’s batsmen were eventually all out for 161.

In reply, Newtown started terribly losing two wickets for as many runs, before Ricky Davies (39) and Ryan Davies (48) restored order.

Runs followed slowly from the rest of the batting order, but Joe Monk’s 20 not out was a big help later in the afternoon to secure the win for his team.

The result leaves Chirk second in the Shropshire County Cricket League John Rees Division One table ahead of the visit of Alberbury on Saturday.

Chirk seconds conceded their match on Saturday.