Monty keep up title pressure
Willey won the toss and elected to bowl but quickly found themselves back in the club house as Montgomery skittled them out for 80 in just 27 overs.
Patrick Fletcher took three crucial early wickets to finish with 3-17, while Alex Bromley took 4-22 and Eddie Bennett ended with figures of 3-12.
In response, Montgomery knocked off the winning runs for the loss of just two wickets as Tim Davies finished 22 not out and Ieuan Griffiths scored an unbeaten 19.
Montgomery are 28 points adrift of Division Two leaders Ellesmere with two games of the season remaining.
Newtown’s run chase finished well short after being set 245-9 by St Georges in the Shropshire Premier League at the weekend.
It could have been a lot worse had Bryant Galpin not turned in an inspired 7-58 to give Newtown a chance. But it still proved out of reach despite a 68 from Tom Anderson as Newtown were dismissed for 170 to leave them second from bottom.
Welshpool remain a spot above the bottom two after a nine-wicket defeat to Forton in Division One.
Paul Chapman (55) and James Breese (also 55) put Welshpool in a decent position with a first innings 204, but Forton’s openers were in super form, guiding them through to victory with just one wicket falling.
Guilsfield avoided defeat in an improved Division Four performance at home to Column.
Wickets were shared as Guilsfield were left with a target of 209-8 to chase, and despite Gary Griffiths (32) and Gary Lewis (29) making decent knocks, they finished short on 155-7 for nine points.
A poor batting performance cost Montgomery II the chance of victory after an impressive performance in the field.
Frankton II were dismissed for 129 in their Reserve Division One match but at one time it looked as though the score would be much greater as their opening batsman, George Dickin, raced to a half century in less than 10 overs. Neil Tuffin led Montgomery’s fight back with 3-37.
However, Montgomery’s batting reply finished eight runs short as only Matthew Jones (48no) was able to stay at the crease for a significant amount of time.
Craig Davies hit 82 and Richard Smout added an unbeaten 46 as Newtown II went joint top of Reserve Division Two with a victory over Allscot.
Newtown posted a decent score of 219-6, before Davies then did his bit with the ball by taking 5-30 to reduce the visitors to 153 all out.
Mat Sherwood top scored with 41 as Welshpool II posted 140-5 in Reserve Division Three at Condover II. The hosts cruised home in the 26th over with four wickets lost.
Meanwhile, Welshpool U13s will be playing in the final of the Shropshire Cricket League Cup on Sunday at 1.15pm at Shelton CC.
They came through a tough group that included Knockin, Montgomery, Oswestry and Whitchurch, losing only one game.
In the final they will be playing either Pontesbury or Church Stretton.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|