Overseas star shines

28/08/2024 @ 10:35

Overseas star Marco Malan continued his superb form as Newtown took another giant stride towards the Shropshire Division One title.

Malan struck 103 from 58 balls, including seven sixes, and then took 3-32 as Newtown demolished Worfield by 166 runs to remain top of the league.

He was backed up by John Anthony (63) and Tom Anderson (38) as Newtown set a huge target of 343-7, before Malan led the attack to dismiss the hosts for just 177.

Nathan Smith (66), Shaun Randall (56), Aaron Ruff-Cock (52) and Andrew Roscow (49) were all amongst the runs as Montgomery posted 293 at Alberbury in Division Two.

In reply, the border club were bowled out for 154 with teenage spinner Leighton Blagg (3-32) making the difference.

Welshpool and Guilsfield & Llandrinio face off this weekend, with both sides looking to be in decent form in Division Three.

Pool were frustrated in their bid to break back into the top two by leaders Wheaton Aston who batted out for a draw.

Charlie Kinsey (36) top scored as Pool who made 189-9 from their 40, but with the bowlers on top, Wheaton Aston shut up shop early and batted out their 40 overs for just 121-5.

Guilsfield & Llandrinio were set a mighty target of 288-4 to chase at the LHG Oval, and they were in with a shout with eight overs to go, but when Rhodri Parfitt (78) fell, the shutters went up and they batted out their 45 overs for 239-7 for a decent share of the draw points.

Newtown II’s bid for promotion took another blow at home to fellow Division Four high flyers Church Stretton who batted first for 112 all out. Evan Smout took 4-19.

But runs were hard to come by with Newtown falling 22 runs short on 90 all out to remain third.

Blake Spiller and Rob Davies both hit 43 as Llanidloes secured a winning draw at Frankton II.

The pair helped Llanidloes post 168 all out, and then Davies (4-38) helped to restrict the hosts to 146-9.

In Division Six, openers Tom Corfield (74no) and Matthew Jones (42) steered Montgomery II to a nine-wicket victory over Ludlow III who had earlier posted 166-5.

But Welshpool II fell to an 18-run defeat at home to Calverhall who had batted first for 154-9. Chris Proctor took 3-39, but the reply ended in the 36^th over, despite 39 from Will Gannon.

In Division Seven, Matt Edwards (70) and Rupert Shingler (39) saw Guilsfield & Llandrinio II through to 156 all out, but it wasn’t enough with the hosts cruising to a seven-wicket win in the 24^th over.

Fixtures

Division One

Newtown v Ellesmere

Division Two

Montgomery v Albrighton

Division Three

Welshpool v Guilsfield & Llandrinio

Division Four

Llanidloes v Condover

Priorslee v Newtown II

Division Six

Knockin & Kinnerley II v Welshpool II