Peel’s brilliant century in vain as Ashlin times Sentinel chase to perfection..
By Jamie Dowley
Sentinel made it three home wins on the bounce with a thrilling run chase against Wem, for whom Chris Peel will be wondering how he wasn’t on the winning side. Batting first, an outstanding 158 2nd wicket partnership in just 20 overs between Harry Chandler (55) and Peel looked to have set the game up but when Peel departed for one of the best hundreds in the league this season, an 82 ball on the deck 110, not for the first time the Wem batting imploded as they lost 6 wickets for 20 runs. In fact only 20 for the last wicket got the visitors up to 237ao in less than 38 overs. Oliver Wilson once again led the Engines attack with 4-46, while Rico Fourie took 4-48 and Tom Griffiths a late 2-18 as the 7th bowler used. Griffiths also played a useful hand at the top of the order as his 43 laid a platform for a fine half century from young tyro Jacob Binnersley but when they both departed, Sentinel still needed half the runs at 117-4. Thus it was down to captain Ed Ashlin to use all his experience to manage the chase, something he did while receiving excellent support from Connor Cheshire. Despite losing Cheshire towards the end for a fine 42, Ashlin was still there with 60no as Sentinel took the win with 7 balls to spare.
The thousands of people stuck in The Quarry who decided they would rather look at flowers and vegetables etc were missing out on two great games of cricket in the town, as across at London Road, Shrewsbury 2nds hosted Oswestry in a crucial basement battle . And it was Shrewsbury who got off to an absolute flyer with in form Dan Walker cracking an even 50 that helped his side reach 100 inside 10 overs. Zane Beattie carried on the good work with 49 while Rob Foster (25), Thomas Richards (24) and Gabe Downes (22) all made contributions in a score that ran to 260-9. Despite the early carnage Shak Marshall bowled well for 4-34 and Henry Walker also pegged the scoring back with 2-34. Oswestry’s reply was a gutsy one but they could never quite get within striking distance as a series of batsmen got in but couldn’t go on to deliver that big number. Matty Richards and Marshall both with 49, Ruch Bandarage with 43 all played their part in a score 17 short at 243-8 as a 5 wicket haul for Beattie brought a massive 20 points for Shrewsbury.
The pressure was on Quatt to bounce back after tasting defeat for the first time last week, and the visit of Shelton who are enjoying possibly their best ever season, looked one that was fraught with danger for the hosts. And for large parts of the game that was how the fixture played out as a subdued Quatt batting line up laboured to 143ao off 47.5 overs, Oliver Plank top scoring with 48, while Simon Jones and Jack Morris shared 6 wickets. Despite losing 2 early wickets Shelton were well in the game once Antonio Morris cut loose for 47, but his departure with the score on 63, piled the pressure onto a patient Pabel Saha and the rest of the away batsmen. At 88-4 Quatt were still under the pump but the visitors suddenly collapsed to 93ao and this time it wasn’t Kuldeep Diwan who was the matchwinner but Gareth Jones and skipper Jed Edwards who both took 5 wickets apiece. A happy Edwards spoke after the game, “this was a big win for us against a strong side who are a match for anyone. We showed great character to bounce back after the disappointment of last week, and our bowling and fielding were excellent after we were a bit light with the bat”
Maz Hasnain scored his first league hundred in three years and showed while he is still arguably the best batter in the league at the age of 48, as Whitchurch secured a comfortable 8 wicket victory at Allscott. The home sides 161 owed much to contributions from Kuldeep Devatwal (46), Jason Summers (21) and some nice late order hitting from Callum Starling (27), while Dan Bowen led the visiting attack with 4-19. Hasnain’s unbeaten 107 was achieved with support from Fahim Muhammed (27) as the Allscott bowlers wilted in the heat with only Summers (2-37) able to peg the scoring back. A fairly comfortable day at the office for Bowen’s men who keep the pressure on Quatt in this two horse title race.
Madeley secured a crucial 20 points in a Telford derby against a St Georges team whose revival seems to be over and are now back fighting for survival again at the bottom. Half centuries from Salim Ahmed & Andy Lloyd, and 27 from Ian Walker were useful but it was some sensational late order hitting from Shahzaib Shahzaib that got the locals off their seats as his 33 ball 60 meant the home side could total a more than useful 239-9. For the Dragons, Alex Johnson who has been badly missed in recent games took 3 wickets. The away reply never really got going until it was too late and at 94-8 it was only a nice 53 from Mo Raheel Khattak that enabled a respectable score of 167ao. Overseas Mithun with 4-11 was the star with the ball in a win badly needed by Madeley that gives them a 19 point lead over the bottom four.
The third century of the day in the Premier Division was at the Burway as Luke Miles scored a superb 121 as Ludlow totalled 229ao at home to Frankton, a score that should have been higher from a position of 224-4 with 5 overs remaining. Once Sam Edwards (51) and Miles departed, the rest fell away much as they did at Wem last week with Stuart Lammie picking up an excellent 5-28 and Frankton legend Richard Parry-Jones 4-46 . Perhaps Frankton sniffed another victory but this time it was not to be as Louis Watkins (4-40), Joe Williams (4-21), and Katie Brazier (2-37) sent the visitors back to North Shropshire for 139ao, only Toby Spark (29) and Jordan Parry (30) making meaningful contributions.
Finally a quick look in Division One where Bomere Heath suffered a disastrous home defeat to Worfield 2nds, a result that piles on the pressure for their huge trip to Newtown next week. A fantastic run chase by Worfield to knock off 282 that made it a superb weekend with their firsts beating Shrewsbury for the first ever time. Cound and Newtown both won as did Newport in 4th who are creeping into contention.
In the Prem next week it’s all eyes on the North again as Quatt travel to Wem and Ludlow (missing Luke Miles) make the trek to Whitchurch, while Allscott badly need to arrest a mini slump away at St Georges.
