Struggling newcomers Forton posted the highest score in the FBC Manby Bowdler League to secure a winning draw and to lift them off the foot of the table.

They rattled up 280-5 in 45 over at home to Montgomery, with Adam Goulding (86) and Antony Barrett (62) putting on an opening stand of 148.

They were backed up by Adam Bushnell (44) and Denzil Pudoza (30), while Andrew Barker claimed 3-89 for the visitors.

The Monty chase never got going from low points of 25-3 and 94-6. However, an unbeaten seventh wicket stand worth 88 between Robert Bennett (50 not out) and Neil Tuffin (24 not out), saved the game, as they closed on 181-6.

Earlier Lee Davies scored 40 and John Barker 34, while Chris Sayers (3-49) and Steven Cartwright (3-40) shared the wickets.

There was little change at the top with the leading four all winning.

Worfield won the toss and restricted visitors Llanidloes to 168-6. Marc Hughes was the mainstay of the Welshmen’s innings, scoring 85. Manny Singh was again in miserly form, taking 2-12 from 10 overs.

Worfield knocked off the runs for the loss of three wickets in 31.3 overs with Matt Turner unbeaten on 46, while openers Tom Pickerill and Shaun Randall scored 44 and 31 respectively.

Second-placed Wroxeter overpowered Ellesmere by 113 runs at the Mereside. Opting to bat first, skipper Nick Bevan led the way with 34.

Twenties from Jamie Carter, Tom Welti and Ben Pridgeon helped to raise the total to 174. John Bennett, took 4-18 from 10 overs.

The Ellesmere innings was a disaster; no one reached double figures, the total for all 11 batsmen being just 34. Extras nearly doubled that figure, as the home team capitulated to 61 all out in 12.3 overs. Scott Woodland (5-27) and Gerry Reilly (5-21) shared the wickets.

Cound returned to winning ways, beating Alberbury at home by eight wickets. The visitors are having trouble with the toss at the moment, having lost every one so far this season.

Each time they have been inserted, and again on Saturday they struggled to post a competitive total. They were restricted to 157 all out in 43.3 overs, Matt Jones running through the middle order to take 5-23.

Tight battle

A century second wicket partnership between Chris Hook (76 not out) and Alan Campbell (54) was enough to take Cound home in the 32nd over.

Fourth placed Frankton and fifth placed Lilleshall had a tight battle in East Shropshire. Asked to bat first, the home side scored 176-9 in 40 overs, with Oli Todd scoring 42, Will Askin 32 and Chris Airey 29.

Tom Wilkie took 4-18, while Rich Parry Jones and Ed Whyte both claimed a brace.

A superb spell of bowling from Will Askin — 5-50 from 18 overs — put Lilleshall on top. Adam Copsey also claimed 2 wickets, and at 125-7, Frankton were in trouble.

However, skipper Jordan Parry (63 not out) and Parry Jones (24 not out) led the fightback, adding 53 in just five overs, to claim a three wicket victory with 4.4 overs to spare.

Welshpool won for the second week in succession, this time an easy six wicket victory at home to Condover.

The visitors were put in to bat, and scored a meagre 49, of which Adam Harris contributed 22.

Sam Birch was the main destroyer, taking 5-18, while Dave Frost claimed 3-21 and Rupert Shingler 2-10.

Welshpool knocked off the runs in just 12.4 overs, but lost four wickets in doing so.