Last day drama for local clubs

Welshpool Cricket Club faces a big week to decide its future path and its first team played its part to try and secure top level cricket with a final day victory at Lilleshall.

Rob Birch cracked 82 as Welshpool set an impressive 185-4 of their 40 overs before Dave Frost took four wickets to reduce the hosts to 104 all out.

That victory for second to bottom Welshpool, coupled with third from bottom Condover’s winning draw could see the Welshmen secure survival but it will be decided by the league’s statisticians this week.

Also in Division One, Montgomery finished mid table despite losing the Mid-Wales derby to Llanidloes by six wickets.

Montgomery set a reasonable target of 133-8 with Ed Davies (26) and Jack Williams (21n/o) top scoring for the visitors. But Llanidloes came through thanks to 52 from opening bat Andrew Evans with only Aaron Ruff-Cock (2-27) posing any real problems.

In Division Four, Montgomery II cruised past Newport III after bowling their visitors out for 142-4. Richard Blayney (47n/o) and John Barker (34) saw Monty home with four wickets down and six over to spare.

Welshpool II slumped to a 94-run defeat at the hands of Hales in Division Five.

There was drama at Guilsfield who had to beat top of the table Frankton III to stand any chance of going up. They set a decent target of 131-6 thanks to Dan Brown (30) and Mal Graham (23) and despite reducing the hosts to 75 all out, Guilsfield must now wait to see if three teams will be promoted after learning that second placed Condover II also won.