Newtown keep pressure on at the top

04/06/2024 @ 11:51

Newtown kept the pressure on the top two of the Shropshire Division One with a brilliant run chase at Newport.

After deciding to bowl first, Newtown were set a target of 229-4 to chase with David Laird and Marco Malan taking a pair of wickets apiece.

The pair then partnered up with the bat to forge a solid fourth-wicket stand which was then carried on by big hitting Malan (87) and Tom Anderson (41) for the fifth wicket to see Newtown home for the loss of six wickets. Laird scored 44.

A solid 62 from Ieuan Griffiths laid the foundations for Montgomery to go on and pick up a crucial Division Two victory at Wellington III.

Griffiths helped his side compile 202 all out with skipper Andrew Barker adding 46, before the bowlers took centre stage and dismissed the hosts for 130. Ed Bennett took 3-32.

Welshpool continued their fantastic start to the Division Three season with a comfortable 56-run victory over Church Aston.

Lance Parkes (46), Charlie Kinsey (46) and Pat Wilding (48) all chipped in with useful contributions as Pool amassed a first innings total of 220 from 40 overs.

Kinsey (3-40 then did the most damage with the ball as Church Aston ended well short on 164-6.

It was another challenging day for Guilsfield & Llandrinio in Division Three with a defeat at the LHG Oval against St George’s II.

The visitors batted first for 214 all out with Steve Griffiths taking a brilliant 6-31, and Dave Jones picking up 2-45.

An aggressive 71 from opener Andy Flann and an unbeaten 34 from Chris Scott, along with 24 from debutant Luke Roberts ensured they picked up precious batting points to finish on 175-7.

There were victories for Newtown II and Llanidloes in Division Four.

Young Evan Smout (4-15) was the star performer for Newtown II who beat Hodnet & Peplow by four wickets. Smout saw off the visitors for 96 all out, and then finished unbeaten on 25 to partner with Ian Hancocks (28) to steady the ship in mid-order after an early collapse in reply.

In-form Adrian Foulkes made 48 and took two wickets as Llanidloes beat Shrewsbury III by 88 runs after setting 200-7 to chase. There were three wickets apiece for Blake Spiller and Eogan Jones as the visitors were dismissed for just 112.

Welshpool II picked up a timely victory at Forton II in Division Six after Dan Chodecki top scored with 46 to post a first innings 156.

In reply, Harry Bowen took 3-17 as Pool dismissed their hosts for 126.

Montgomery II came within five runs of catching Willey II’s first innings target of 187-4 in Division Six, despite the best efforts of Rob Yewdall (63no). Monty ended on 182-8.

Guilsfield & Llandrinio II continued their mixed bag of results in Division Seven with a defeat at Chirk II, who made 182-5 from their 40 overs.

Matt Edwards and the in-form Jinil Thilakan both made 30 in reply, but wickets tumbled as they finished on 139-9 to remain in mid-table.

Fixtures

Division One

Newtown v Chirk

Division Two

Montgomery v Knockin & Kinnerley

Division Three

Church Aston v Guilsfield & Llandrinio

Welshpool (Free Saturday)

Division Four

Llanidloes v Priorslee