Whitchurch Cricket Club clinch promotion and celebrate with Champagne.

Whitchurch have sealed a famous Shropshire promotion double in Birmingham League division three.

The Heath Road men secured their place in next season’s division two alongside already-crowned champions Bridgnorth with a six-wicket success over Newport in their final game on Saturday.

Memories of losing three games on the trot were quickly forgotten as Newport, for whom overseas professional Rajat Bhatia did not bat due to injury, were bowled out for 85 inside 30 overs.

Dan Bowen and Amjad Ali Khan both took four wickets before Maz Hasnain made a half century to see his team over the line for the loss of just four wickets, sealing the club’s first ever promotion within the Birmingham League after five years of trying.

“It’s a massive achievement for the club and the players really deserved to party hard on Saturday,” said chairman Paul Wodja.

“It is tough being in north Shropshire with the amount of travelling we have to do and with the economy the way it’s been, but they have all stuck at it. We have schemes for our young players which have paid divdends and everyone has chipped in during the season.”

Newport were already relegated before this game and must now rebuild for their return to the Marston’s Shropshire Premier League.

Bridgnorth brought the curtain down on their championship season with a straight-forward victory at bottom club Aston Unity.

Marc MacPherson-Lees struck a fine century as Bridgnorth rattled up 232-9 before declaring in the 44th over.

And Tom Weaver then took 4-56 as Aston Unity were dismissed for 165.

“It had a bit of an end-of-season feel to it but it was nice to finish with a run and, overall, the season has been fantastic,” said team manager Ray Perry.