Nail-biting finish keeps Oswestry top

Although they came agonisingly close to winning, Oswestry, who finished on 265-9, came just as close to losing.

Avoiding defeat may be pivotal come the end of the season, because even though their lead over second-placed Fordhouses is just three points, Hawks are 50 points back.

“It was an absolute cracker” said Robinson. “The best game we’ve had all season.

“We were 12 short at the end, but we kept going for them all the way through.

“Kabir Ali was fantastic for them, he looked absolutely class. They’ve got two dangermen, we got his cousin Omar out in the first over, but then Kabir made 118. He was the difference between the two sides.”

Oswetry’s left-arm spinners Charlie Morris (4 for 48) and Mark Robinson (4 for 56) did the damage, before Joe Carrasco (91) and 16-year-old Xavie Clarke (40), younger brother of Worcestershire’s Joe Clarke, kept the hosts in the game.

“Joe batted beautifully, he’s in the best form of his life, he’s averaging well over 50 in the league,” said Robinson. “We’re still top of the table and still well clear of third place which is good. We’ve dropped a few points in the last few games but we’re still playing well and looking confident.

“We’re at Harborne this Saturday, which is always a struggle. I thought they’d be one of the main challengers this season. Although they did win on Saturday to lift themselves out of the bottom two.”

In Division Three, Newport beat Shropshire rivals Sentinel by 66 runs, thanks to an unbeaten 53 from Mark Downes and 43 from Ryan Jakeman.

George Cheshire (3-34) and Andrew Harrison (3-37) did the damage for the visitors, but they were bowled out for 172 after Shabir Khan and Nick Watkins took three wickets each for Newport.

Newport are fifth, but Sentinel are in the bottom four and in danger of rejoining the Shropshire County League after just one season in the Birmingham League.