Welshpool skipper Dale Evans was left to reflect on what might have been after his side were edged out by Wem, writes John Bridgwater.

A low scoring game saw Pool dismissed for 96, before being pipped as their visitors scrambled 97-8 in a tight finish.

“The wicket was a bit underprepared and it was a bad toss to lose,” said Evans. “We were 25-6 so did well to get up to 96 in the end.

“But we didn’t bowl well early on, and gave them 19 extras which cost us in the end.

“We had our chances, but the bottom line is that we’ve now picked up just 13 points out of a possible 63 from our last three games which is disappointing.”

Runs were at a premium as Pool struggled to 98 all out, the only resistance coming from John Gough who ensured some respectability with 41 not out.

Mid-table rivals Wem made a flying start, with 29 coming off the first five overs while they looked well placed on 60-2.

But they collapsed against some tight bowling, with Rupert Shingler taking 4-21 and Dave Frost 3-24, before squeezing to their target.

“Another win is always good but I’m not sure why we seem so intent on making such a good game of it at the moment,” said Wem skipper Will Savage, who made 20.

Seven-wicket

“We got to 60-2 playing solidly but we started to make a meal out of it.”

Basement club Much Wenlock fielded Pakistani Arslam Mir for the first time – but it wasn’t enough to prevent them sliding to a seven-wicket defeat to Bomere Heath.

Mir was without a game for the club he plays for in the north of England as a professional, and so was drafted in by Wenlock.

Captain Stuart Walters is unsure over Mir’s future availability but he certainly made a big impact as he hit 71 out of Wenlock’s 184-5 off 40 overs, Ian Middleton making 65.

But it wasn’t enough to trouble Bomere Heath who coasted home by seven wickets inside 28 overs, thanks in no short measure to Hafiz Khalid Mahmood who scored an unbeaten 102 off 74 balls including 12 fours and five sixes.

“Wenlock have had a good record at our ground over the years so we didn’t take anything for granted even though they were bottom of the table,” said skipper Ian Day.

In the day’s other games, Newtown appeared well placed as they reached 63-1 in pursuit of Broseley’s 148-6 before the rain arrived, while Ludlow were 92-4 against Shelton when play was abandoned for the day at the Burway.