Birmingham League: Shrewsbury claim winning draw on rain-wrecked day

Shrewsbury climbed out of the Birmingham League bottom two courtesy of a winning draw against Moseley on a day rain wreaked havoc.

The match at London Road was one of only two to be completed in Division One, with the home side able to move up the standings while rivals were stuck in the pavilion.

But the day ended with a tinge of disappointment as Shrewsbury were unable to complete what would have been just their second win of the season.

Put into bat by the visitors, who arrived having lost all seven of their previous matches, Shrewsbury were bowled out for 273 in their 55 overs.

Llyr Thomas played the vital anchor role with a crucial 57, sharing in partnerships of 50 with Rhodri Evans (36) and 70 with Ed Prideaux (41) as the home side recovered from 52-3.

When Thomas departed with the score 185-6, late hitting from Matt Swift saw Shrewsbury to their total as he smashed an unbeaten 43 from 51 balls.

Dustin Melton then took three top order wickets as the visitors were reduced to 45-5 inside 14 overs but the weather proved a stubborn opponent.

With their innings reduced to just 36 overs, Moseley dug in to finish on 106-6, leaving Shrewsbury to take 16 points from the contest.

Worfield got the better of Shifnal in a Division Two Shropshire derby which was also impacted by the rain.

Shifnal’s decision to put the home side in looked an excellent one when three early wickets for Ben Roberts had them reeling at 22-4.

But the middle order, led by captain Ross Aucott, led an impressive fightback. Aucott’s 46 began a recovery which was then taken on by Joe Arnold (61) and Arthur Smallman (54).

The latter pair were both removed by Jack Shields, who finished with figures of 4-43 but Worfield’s total of 269-9 looked a good one.

Shifnal began their reply in confident mood, opener Rahul Kaushal hitting 50, before Thomas Newnes and Ben Lees both scored 47.

But with rain removing 14 overs from the chase, the total always looked out of reach and fine bowling from Shahrukh Khan also hindered momentum.

When Lees became his fifth victim with just under three overs remaining, Shifnal dug in to see out the draw and a haul of nine points, finishing on 195-8. Worfield took 14 points to increase the gap between themselves and the bottom two.