Stunning performances as cricket returns

28/04/2025 @ 11:11

Newtown endured a tough return to life in the Shropshire Premier League with an opening day 49-run defeat at home to Sentinel.

The day started well, with the Newtown attack reducing their visitors to 48-6, but a 101 seventh wicket stand carried the Shropshire side towards a more respectable 194-8 from their 50 overs.

Opening bowlers Tom Anderson (3-24) and David Laird (3-37) inflicted most of the early damage.

Newtown’s reply failed to gather momentum and, despite decent knocks from opener Ben Price (33) and Tom Foulkes (29), the chase finished well short in the 38^th over on 145.

An early contender for performance of the season came from Montgomery’s Ieuan Griffiths who smashed a rapid 110 in 61 balls to demolish Alberbury by 231 runs in Division Two.

Griffiths smashed seven sixes and 11 fours on his way to 110 as Monty amassed a whopping 407-5 from 40 overs. Support came from Charles Clinton (75), Nathan Smith (77no) and Aaron Ruff-Cock (40).

Dan Cadwallader took 4-13 to see his Welshpool side to victory on the road at Church Aston in Division Three.

The match was in the balance at the halfway stage, with Welshpool setting 146-8 from 35 overs thanks largely to Sam Cadwallader (42) and Nick Roberts (32no).

But Dan Cadwallader led the charge to ensure the hosts were whittled out for just 115 with a pair of wickets each for Matt McWhinnie and Sam Cadwallader.

Guilsfield & Llandrinio went down fighting to a youthful Whitchurch II at the LHG Oval in Division Three after being set 220-8 to chase. Dave Jones and Dave Williams took a couple of wickets apiece.

The response was going well with Andy Flann (58 - pictured right by Stever Edwards) and Luke Roberts (42) looking strong, but a flurry of wickets ended their hopes on 181 in the 39^th over.

There were fifties for Will Denham (52), Dan Lewis (56no) and Rob Davies (52no) as Llanidloes set 200-2 and cruised to a 98-run Division Four victory over Bomere Heath II, who were dismissed for 102. Davies (4-19) and Eogan Jones (3-14) did the damage with the ball.

Also, in Division Four, Newtown II chased down Iscoyd & Fenns Bank’s first innings total of 197-8 in an exciting match that saw victory secured in the 38^th over. Mike Bellamore (82) and skipper Callum Foulkes (69) led the charge to victory.

Dan Perkins was kicking himself for getting out on 99 (pictured right by Phil Blagg), but his effort was in vain with his Montgomery II side falling short in a high scoring 59-run defeat to Alberbury II in Division Six.

Leighton Blagg’s 3-50 was the pick as Alberbury reached 280-7, and despite Perkins batting well, the hosts were dismissed for 221.

A strong batting performance paved the way for Welshpool II to post 181-8 and secure the points at home to Calverhall, also in Division Six.

Chris Proctor (28), Patrick Davies (35), Will Gannon (39) and Joe Cadwallader (25) all made useful contributions, and they were backed by their bowlers who dismissed the visitors for 147.

Richard Lewis struck an unbeaten 57 in Guilsfield & Llandrinio II’s defeat at Whittington in Division Seven.

The villagers struggled their way to 129 all out, which was never enough as the hosts cruised to a seven-wicket win in the 32^nd over.

Fixtures

Premier League

Shelton v Newtown

Division Two

Montgomery v Forton

Division Three

Welshpool v Wellington III

St George’s III v Guilsfield & Llandrinio

Division Four

Llanidloes v Iscoyd & Fenns Bank