Openers prove key in Shrewsbury win

The London Roaders bounced back from defeat a week earlier with a 74-run success at Wolverhampton.

Stand-in skipper Will Parton and Rob Foster got the visitors off to a great start before the former became the first man to fall when he was dismissed for 59.

From then on it was the bowlers who dominated as the loss of Ed Foster with the score on 107 sparked a collapse.

Shrewsbury lost their last eight wickets for just 37 and were all out for 144 inside 37 overs. But anything Wolverhampton’s attack could do Shrewsbury’s could match, with Mike Barnard – who had suffered an injury scare during the warm-up – leading the way.

Worcestershire batsman Tom Fell was one of Barnard’s four victims as the hosts were torn apart.

Wolverhampton were in all sorts of trouble at 22-6 and only Adam Lawley (33) offered any resistance before they were bowled out for 70 in just 21.3 overs.

Barnard finished with 4-34 and there was also an excellent contribution from Ed Foster (3-16).

Newport suffered their fourth straight Division Three defeat with a three-wicket defeat at home to Stratford-Upon-Avon.

Ed Fowler and sixteen-year-old wicketkeeper Sam Papps, making his first appearance of the season, put on 48 for the seventh wicket to help the hosts recover from a sticky situation.

Fowler, who had been short of form, made 52 to help Newport to a competitive 171 all out on a wicket offering plenty of assistance.

When the visitors were reduced to 128-7, Newport looked on course for victory.

But an unbeaten 63 from Gareth Langman steered the visitors home despite three wickets for Shabbir Khan.

Whitchurch were frustrated by a terrific ton from Tom Field in their clash at bottom club Redditch.

Six home batsmen were out for single figures but Field’s 103 helped the home side to 250-9 in a game reduced to 54 overs, Ijaz Yousaf taking 5-55.

Whitchurch finished their reply on 198-7 to pick up eight points from a losing draw.