Joseph Arnold ready to lend a hand in glory hunt

The left-arm off-spin bowler picked up 1-34 as the second-placed side proved too strong for their second-bottom hosts, who were dismissed for 183 in pursuit of Worfield’s 251-6.

The win kept Worfield second in the Henshalls Shropshire County Cricket League Premier Division, 37 points behind leaders Whitchurch.

But the wicket, which skittled Frankton’s Jack Hutchinson out for a duck, was Arnold’s first of the year as he stepped up his rehab from shoulder surgery.

Arnold suffered a SLAP tear in his shoulder, tearing the cartilage, last June due to overusing it while playing.

He said: “It really meant a lot actually,” admitted Arnold, who had his operation in January following the injury.

“It’s the first week I’ve bowled since then so it’s an added bonus really.

“It’s still aching now afterwards, but that’s expected. It’s good to be back and strengthening our attack.

“I’ve always been a bowler and haven’t been able to for so long so there was a bit of celebration.”

While second-top winning at second-bottom is, on paper, expected, Arnold was pleased to see his side win well when struggling with availability.

There was also praise from within as two of the day’s stars were products of the club’s second team.

After adjusting to the hard surface in scorching conditions, Piers Rouwenhorst and Harvey Sage rattled off 51 and 53 respectively before Bryn Simmons’ 69 did further damage.

Arnold added: “We were without Jim Parker, Ian Anderson and Tom Whitney. It’s good to carry on winning games.

“We’re leading the chase to Whitchurch and we still have to play them again. One hundred per cent we want to bounce back up (after relegation last year).

“Of course we want to be top. We’re playing good cricket but not as good as we can. There are room for improvements in all areas.

“We have a big game against Wem this weekend.”

Will Weir was Worfied’s most successful bowler with 3-35 while Ian Simmons picked up 2-48.

Leaders Whitchurch continued their form with a comfortable victory at home to bottom side Albrighton.

The hosts made 274 with opener Vansh Bajaj contributing 58 and Elliott Bowen 69. Other than Ismail Anwar’s 65 in response, the visitors were powerless as Sam Ellis returned figures of 4-44.

In-form fourth-placed Quatt enjoyed a five-wicket victory over Madeley at Park Street Ground.

Figures of 3-11 and 3-22 from skipper Craig Jones and Ryan Wheldon helped dismiss the hosts for 135 before Elliot Parker and Scott Randall both amassed 40 as the chase was completed in 27.5 overs.

St Georges were winners at Market Drayton, leapfrog their hosts into eighth as a result.

The visitors made light work of Drayton’s 170, securing the win with seven wickets to spare mostly thanks to an unbeaten 87 from Marshall Bunting.

Ludlow kept themselves in the chasing pack with a nine-wicket thrashing of newly-promoted Newtown.

The hosts, flying high in the standings, were dismissed for 207 with Sam Edwards (56), Keanu Cooper (52) and Jack Griffiths (66) impressing with the bat.

Ludlow remain third, three points shy of Worfield.

Wem, in sixth, enjoyed home comforts posting a big result as they downed fifth-paced Broseley.

Nadeem Ahmed (42) top scored for the visitors, who reached 170.

And in a tight finish Wem clinched victory with two wickets to spare thanks in part to wicketkeeper Harry Chandler’s 51.

The victors closed the gap on Broseley to seven points with the win.