Shropshire Star

Oswestry still top despite third loss

Birmingham League Division Two leaders Oswestry fell to their third successive defeat in a nail-biting finish to their top-of-the-table clash.

Published

Losing by one wicket to second-place Pershore off the penultimate ball of the match cut their lead at the top to just five points with two matches to play.

Oswestry should still go up if they win one of their remaining fixtures because Pershore and Halesowen meet on the final day of the season.

But this end-of-season blip is worrying, and in danger of wrecking the good work done throughout the rest of the season.

After winning the toss and electing to bat, Oswestry made 226-9 thanks to half-centuries from skipper Robbie Clarke (61) and Alun Morris (58).

Wicketkeeper Warrick Fynn chipped in with 34. Taylor Pugh took 5-39 for Pershore and Tom Pilling finished with figures of 3-49.

In response, wicketkeeper captain Liam Ridings opened with a 78 that gave Pershore a solid platform before Stephen Miles’s unbeaten 42 snuck them over the line with nine wickets down and one ball remaining.

Sadaf Hussain (3-54) had set up a tense finish by claiming Charlie Cross and Tom Pilling for ducks to leave Oswestry needing one more wicket, but then Miles hit the winning runs.

Roman Walker took 3-48 for Oswestry, who travel to fourth-placed Fordhouses next week before hosting third-bottom Wombourne on the final day of the season.