Newtown back up to second

Newtown are back in the hunt for the Mansfield Sports Group Shropshire Division One title after a rain-affected win at Cound.

Tom Anderson (4-35) led the way as Newtown reduced their hosts to 156 all out, and with the weather starting to worsen, the score was revised down to 121 from 27 overs.

Ally Laird (33no) and JC Bolt (33no) steered the visitors through to victory with only two wickets lost to move back up to second.

Welshpool and Montgomery’s matches were cancelled, but a Herculean effort from the grounds team at Guilsfield & Llandrinio’s LHG Oval saw them move into serious title contention in Division Four.

Hosting second placed and much-fancied Newport II, Guilsfield’s impressive bowling attack reduced their visitors to 74 all out, with the evergreen Steve Griffiths taking 4-15 and Katie Parfitt spinning her way to 3-11.

With the dark clouds gathering, openers Andy Flann (35no) and David Williams (28no) didn’t hang around to secure a 10-wicket win ahead of a visit to top-of-the-table Wheaton Aston this Saturday.

Newtown II are right back in the Division Five promotion hunt after bowling Priorslee out for just 31.

Jonathan Davies (4-13) and Riley Bellamore (4-14) did the damage, allowing the openers to secure a 10-wicket win to move Newtown into third, just behind Llanidloes who were a victim of the weather.

CRICKET: Saturday fixtures

A list of the local action from the Mansfield Sports Group Shropshire League 

Division One

Newtown v Shifnal II

Division Three

Welshpool v Church Aston 

Montgomery v Oswestry II

Division Four

Wheaton Aston v Guilsfield & Llandrinio

Division Five

Priorslee v Llanidloes

Wellington IV v Newtown II

Division Six

Cound II v Montgomery II

Ludlow III v Welshpool II 

Division Eight

Guilsfield II v Chirk II