Losing weekend for Chirk’s cricketers

SHROPSHIRE COUNTY CRICKET LEAGUE

NEWTOWN (20) 84-0 CHIRK (0) 82-10

A rare poor performance from Chirk saw them crash by 10 wickets at fellow Welsh side Newtown.

In defence of the Holyhead Road side, they were without top run-scorer and so often influential bowler Andrew Swarbrick.

They will also be missing him for this weekend’s home test against Wellington 2nd XI, as well as Nick Flack, Billy Swarbrick and Wynn Jones.

Put into bat, the visitors were bowled out for just 82 and then were powerless to stop the hosts coasting to 84-0 in just 16 overs for a 20-0 victory.

CHIRK 2ND XI (3) 90-10 BEACON 3RD XI (21) 91-6

Report: Andrew Edwards

With both teams fielding sides that tested their resources, Chirk Seconds, led by stand-in co-captains Dale Randall and Nigel Randall, won the toss and elected to bat at Holyhead Road.

Beacon Thirds, who were fielding around half a team of school age, produced a tight bowling display aided by very sharp catching as the Colliers were all out for 90 after 25.2 overs.

Dale Randall top-scored with an excellent 30, whilst for Beacon Thirds, Dax Hardman took 3-7, ably supported by Jaden Graham’s 2-20 and Sam Turner’s 2-21.

In reply, Beacon Thirds were made to work very hard to knock off the runs, losing six wickets before completing the win in 26.2 overs.

Chirk will be rueing several dropped chances. However, with only 10 players making up the team it was a performance that the Colliers should quite rightly take plenty of heart from.

Hardman backed up his effort with the ball by posting 26. Meanwhile, Owen Hopwood took career best figures of 3-19 off 5.2, Dale Randall notching 2-10.

This weekend, Chirk Seconds face the long journey to play Ludlow Thirds at the picturesque Burway Lane in Shropshire County Cricket Division Seven. Wickets are pitched for a noon start.