Shropshire League: Wem go top after big win at title rivals

Wem went top of the Shropshire Cricket League thanks to a four-wicket win at title rivals Quatt.

The teams are now level on points at the Premier Division summit, yet it is the Soulton Road outfit who are ahead courtesy of a superior head-to-head record.

Saturday’s win ensured the title race remains very much alive with two months of the season to play.

Quatt, who began the day with a 19-point lead, could only manage a total of 207 after choosing to bat, despite half centuries for Alex Biddle (53) and Todd Henderson (51).

Both were among the five wickets claimed by Tom Astley, while Dan Bowen also claimed three.

Wem then lost openers Harry Chandler and Sam Peate early in the reply before an excellent 76 from Abhishek Reddy, from just 74 balls, put them on course for victory. Quatt kept taking wickets but eventually ran out of runs to defend as the visitors got home with 15 overs to spare.

Whitchurch are in striking distance of the leading pair after winning a low-scoring affair at Sentinel.

Muhammed Fahim (37) was one of only two visiting batsmen to pass 20 in a total of 155, with Nick Bateup taking 5-50.

But it proved enough as the home side never truly recovered from a top order collapse, which left them 19-4 in reply.

Bateup gave some resistance with a brisk 36 but Whitchurch kept taking wickets and eventually dismissed their hosts for 128, to win by 27 runs.

A large gap has now opened between the top and bottom half of the table after thumping wins for St Georges, Allscott Heath and Wellington.

Ashish Ashish’s brilliant 161, from just 86 balls, helped St Georges rack up 337-7 against Shrewsbury seconds.

The all-rounders knock included 10 sixes and he followed it up with an impressive display with the ball, taking three wickets as Shrewsbury were bowled out for 192 to lose by 145 runs.

An excellent team bowling effort saw Allscott Heath blow past Shelton, who were dismissed for just 90 with Luke Thornton, Calum Starling and Kuldeep Devatwal all taking three wickets each. Allscott chased down the target, for the loss of five wickets, in under 13 overs.

Wellington made even shorter work of Ludlow, who were bowled out for 52 in 18.3 overs, David Laird (5-31) leading the way.

Elsewhere, bottom club Newtown went down by 106 runs at home to Madeley.