Birmingham League: Bowling heroics not enough as Shrewsbury fall to defeat

A brilliant bowling performance from Sam Whitney was not enough to save Shrewsbury from a heavy defeat at home to Barnards Green.

Whitney’s figures of 8-56 were the best in the Birmingham League this summer.

But the record lasted for only for only three hours, as George Rhodes took 8-43 to help the visitors claim what was, in the end, a comfortable win.

They looked second favourites at the halfway stage after Whitney had taken out the middle and lower order, sparking a collapse from 168-4 to 217 all out.

Shrewsbury’s reply, however, simply never got going. Rhodes took four wickets in his first seven overs to leave them reeling on 52-4.

Rhodri Evans (24) and Llyr Thomas (22) were the only players to pass 20 as the hosts eventually crumbled to 115 all out. The defeat left Shrewsbury sitting eighth in Division One.

Shifnal opened up the gap between themselves and the Division Two relegation scrap with a 103-run win at struggling West Bromwich Dartmouth.

Joe Johnson’s 56 and a brisk 41 from Harry Parton helped the Shropshire club reach 221-9 from 55 overs.

Dartmouth began the chase in confident mood, with Bruce Thomason hitting 26 from just 22 balls in an opening partnership of 63 with Kobe Herft.

But the introduction of Ben Roberts into the attack saw momentum swing decisively as he tore through the top order.

The home side promptly collapsed to 118 all out, Roberts finishing with superb figures of 6-18 from 14 overs.

While Shifnal are breathing a little easier and turning their sights toward the top end of the table, Worfield remain in deep trouble after losing by seven wickets to Leamington.

Rohel Peters hit 40 for Worfield but leg spinner Jason Jakeman took six wickets to put the visitors in control, before Ravan Chahal’s 33 from 32 balls at least saw the hosts post 169.

It still proved some way short of a competitive score, thanks to the excellence of opener Harrison Smith, who hit an unbeaten century to guide his side to victory inside 37 overs.

A victory elsewhere for fellow strugglers Old Hill saw Worfield slip into the bottom two, nine points from safety.