The start of the 2008 Shropshire Cricket League season brought the warmest day of the year, six completed games in the top division, two centuries and an outstanding bowling performance.

Last year’s runners-up Wroxeter and Uppington enjoyed an 18-8 winning draw in the face of determined opposition from Acton Reynald at the Avenue.

The visitors won the toss, and Guy Johnson soon took full advantage with two quick wickets.

When Ritchie Evason departed for 20, Wroxeter were struggling on 35-3. Debutants Elliot Rowe and Callum Cook brought the innings around with 41 and 35 respectively, but another three wickets took them back into trouble at 115-6. An unbroken seventh wicket partnership of 59 between Matt Bevan (27no) and Dan Harris (25no) took them to a 50 over total of 174-6. Johnson finished as Reynald’s best bowler, taking 2-22.The reply started well, with Adrian Burr getting 30, but the loss of four quick wickets hampered their cause.

Neil Boxall (33) and Andy Harrison (20) led the recovery, but both were dismissed as the visitors closed on 133-7. Aussie Cook, Massey and Nick Bevan all bagged two each.

Frankton, third in 2007, started with a bang at Trysull and Seisdon. Jason Brookes hit 52 and Sri Lankan Nalaka de Silva 79 as Frankton racked up 279-7 in 45 overs. Trysull had no answer to the Frankton attack, and were bowled for 74 with Rich Parry-Jones taking four wickets. The best game of the day came at Davenport Park, where Worfield hosted Cound.

Worfield were asked to bat and skipper Tim Perry (49) and Steve McMahon took the home side to a promising 104-1, before the loss of five wickets reduced them to 136-6 with just six overs to go.

Simon Aucott (27no) and James Parker (24no) then produced a brilliant 51 run partnership, setting Cound a challenging target of 187 in 42 overs. For Cound, Matt Jones and Jim Cadwallader each took two. Ex-skipper, Graham Trow, led the response with his first League ton for two years. When he was run out for exactly 100, the score was 140-2 with 10 overs remaining. Tim Beardsmore then took two wickets (2-48), as the target became 30 from six; however Jones (22) guided the visitors to the brink before he too was run out. The winning runs came with three balls to spare, for the loss of six wickets.

Market Drayton, relegated from the Premier League, would be disappointed with their start to the season as they were hustled out for 57 in 27 overs by Lilleshall. Star of the show was Will Askin, returning the fine figures of 7-17 from 13.3 overs. Young Adam Copsey also bowled well to take 2-8 from six overs. Drayton’s top scorer was extras with 31.

In reply Dave Marshall was in belligerent mood as he rattled off 41 of the 58 runs needed inside 10 overs.

Llanidloes would also be disappointed with their performance at home to Alberbury. They conceded 55 extras to enable the visitors to reach 152 all out from 44.4 overs. The next highest scorer was Charlie Bourne with 22. Adrian Foulkes was the best bowler, finishing with 4-20.

Then the home team was bowled out for just 66 in 34 overs, as Myles Thomas and Ollie Corbett took three wickets apiece.

Allscott had a 19-4 winning draw against Pontesbury. Carl Starling led the way with a fine knock of 116 as his team scored 237-7 from 45 overs. Nick Gittens provided good support with 40, while Steve Wilson produced another excellent spell, taking 5-100 from 20 overs. Pontesbury were never in the huntand closed on 124-7; new signing Ian Pollard took 2-25.