Birmingham League: Shrewsbury continue red-hot form as Peter Clark hits superb century

Peter Clark produced a superb all-round display, including an unbeaten century, as Shrewsbury extended their fine Birmingham League Premier Division One form.

Shrewsbury made it five matches unbeaten with a dominant eight-wicket victory over Kenilworth Wardens on Saturday.

The win secured their third maximum 24-point haul in four games and lifted them further clear of the relegation places into seventh. They now have 150 points, 49 above the bottom two.

After electing to field, Shrewsbury were made to work early on as Kenilworth openers Alex Wilkinson and Oliver Dandy shared an 86-run partnership.

Clark broke the stand by dismissing both openers and finished with three wickets alongside Dustin Melton and Gabe Downes who also struck as Kenilworth were bowled out for 206 in 53.3 overs. Seven of the wickets fell to catches.

Shrewsbury’s reply was emphatic as Clark and George Hargrave put on 193 for the first wicket.

Clark finished unbeaten on 106 from 99 balls, hitting 16 fours and two sixes, while Hargrave fell just short of a century after making 90, including 12 fours and two sixes, before Ben Blakemore bowled him.

Will Parton was dismissed for two, but Shrewsbury comfortably reached their target in the 32nd over, with Clark and Finn Jones (five not out) seeing them home.

In Premier Division Two, Shifnal’s unbeaten run ended with a six-wicket defeat to promotion-chasing Berkswell.

Put into bat, Shifnal were well placed at 168-2 thanks to Chad Brandrick’s 83 and Thomas Fell’s 65.

Contributions from the middle order helped them post 249 before they were bowled out in the final over of their innings.

Berkswell, however, eased to victory thanks largely to an unbeaten century from C J Whittock. Will Iles added 55 after opener Vansh Jani made 49 as the visitors reached their target in the 50th over.

Despite the defeat, Shifnal remain eighth, 38 points clear of the relegation zone.

Meanwhile, Worfield sit eight points above the bottom two after taking 17 points from a draw with basement side Old Hill.

Ross Aucott led the way with 98, striking 12 fours and two sixes, while Basit Zaman made 40 and Rohel Peters added 41 as Worfield posted the weekend’s highest league total of 277-8 from 55 overs.

Worfield made the perfect start with the ball, reducing Old Hill to 10-2, but Saad Naseem made 57 before Sayf Hosein’s unbeaten century denied them victory as the visitors finished two wickets short of defeat.