Welshpool back on track

 

But while Welshpool were seeing off Llanidloes, Montgomery were slumping to a seven-wicket defeat at Lilleshall while Guilsfield were given a day off due to the heavy downpours on Saturday morning.

 

Welshpool were put into bat by Llanidloes and managed to post a decent looking 182-7 in their 40 overs. Opener  Joe Birch almost carried his bat with 70 before falling in the last over and he was assisted by brother Rob on 33. Only veteran Rob Jones could stifle the Welshpool batsmen and finished with figures of 3-20.

 

Llanidloes batters found it difficult to score runs as Welshpool’s attack removed openers Andrew Evans and Mark Hughes for 17.  Wickets fell regularly with only Simon Jones (19) and Ryan Jones (29) reaching double figures as they fell well short. 

Sam Birch took 3-21 and young Rob Anderson 2-12.  The game finished in a moment of glory for the Birch family when Sam took the final catch off father and captain Ernie who must have been pleased with the improved Welshpool display.

 

Also in Division One, Montgomery could only post 131-8 off their 35 overs to give visiting Lilleshall the edge.

 

Rob Kinsey and Richard Blayney both top scored on 27 as Montgomery were penned in by the Englishmen’s attack who in reply cruised home with 21 balls and seven wickets to spare despite Kinsey taking three wickets.

 

The second XI did not fare much better in Division Four at Grove. Batting first, Monty posted a decent 187-9 off 35 overs with Keith Griffiths top scoring on 43. But Grove hit back and reached the target with 10 balls and five wickets to spare despite Jonathan Williams taking 3-28.

 

Welshpool II travelled to Quayside in good heart but unable to reach the same heady heights as their opening day.  Welshpool put Quayside in to bat and restricted them to 150 all out in 38 overs. Teenage Tom Anderson, brother of first team bowler Rob, who took 5-26.  In reply, Welshpool made a good start, putting on 29 for the first wicket but then lost wickets regularly hung on for a losing draw on 122-9.

 

Welshpool spilled nine catches which proved costly in the end as skipper Dan Chodecki, who scored 31 runs, said: “The dropped catches made all the difference, had we held onto ours the victory would have been in our grasp.”

 

A young Welshpool III team went to Bomere Heath reached a pleasing total of 188-5 off 35 overs.  A number of batters contributed to the total including Damon Preston (56 no), Sean Roberts (44), Keiran Evans (27no) and skipper Dave Whitehouse (27). 

 

Bomere never threatened the Welshpool total as experienced bowler Alan Williams took 3-14. But Bomere always looked like saving the game which eventually petered out into a draw with the hosts finishing on 145-8.