Newtown slump to heavy defeat

It was a day to forget for Newtown as they slumped to a seven-wicket defeat against title-chasing Wem to remain second from bottom in the Shropshire Premier League.

After being put in to bat, Newtown were dismissed for just 87 with only Sam Cook (22) and Matt Knight (21) reaching double figures.

It was easy pickings for Wem who lost just three wickets to keep their title hunt on track with only nine overs used.

Montgomery secured a winning draw against Lilleshall in a rain-reduced 35-over Division Two match.

Batting first, Montgomery scored 187-2 as Tim Davies ended unbeaten on 62 while Thomas Corfield made 44 before being run out.

In reply, Lilleshall batted out for just 63-3 with Eddie Bennett (2-3) and Patrick Fletcher (1-10) sharing the wickets.

Next week sees Montgomery at home against Wellington Thirds with the Lymore-based club all but certain of finishing the Shropshire Division Two campaign as league runners-up, Shropshire T20 Junior Slam champions and Montgomeryshire T20 runners-up.

Guilsfield and Llandriniostaged a fightback to try and secure an unlikely Division Four win, but ended up settling for a losing draw at Harcourt.

Duncan Todd took 3-48 as the visitors restricted Harcourt to 160-7 from their reduced 30 overs and, despite the loss of the top order cheaply, they had a go at it before falling short on 151-9. In-form Gary Griffiths (38) and Gary West (37) led the mid-order fightback.

Llanidloes couldn’t compile enough runs as they lost at Quayside in Division Four by seven wickets. Batting first, Llani could only muster 120 which the hosts managed in 29 overs.

In the Reserve Divisions, Montgomery IIperformed admirably as they held league leaders Sentinel to a draw.

The home side got off to the perfect start as Richard Jones and Jake Wilkinson caught their openers off the bowling of Neil Tuffin (1-10) and Rob Yewdall (2-47) respectively, but as the rain got heavier the Shrewsbury-based outfit scored heavily off their last 10 overs to end 135-4.

In reply, Dave Jones was rewarded for his fine form with the willow by being given a chance to open the batting, and he didn’t disappoint as he top scored with 45.

But in the end the Sentinel bowling attack proved to strong and Montgomery were left holding on for a losing draw as they finished 99-9 off the 30 allotted overs.