Two great games produce mixed fortunes for Chirk’s cricketers

SHROPSHIRE COUNTY CRICKET LEAGUE REPORTS JULY 23

DIVISION ONE

Chelmarsh 1st XI (6) 184-10 Chirk 1st XI (20) 185-8

Leaders Chirk edged a tight one and are four points clear at the Division One summit.

Put into bat, hosts Chelmarsh were bowled out for 184 in 42.5 overs, opener Alex Starr (66) and skipper Connor Glendinning (39) the chief contributors.

For Chirk, Jonathan Phillips grabbed a superb 3-15 off nine, Mark Shaw took 3-37 and the returning Andrew Swarbrick collected 2-37.

In reply, the visitors lost both openers for ducks and were floundering on 26-4 before a season’s best from James Carter (39) and Shaw (31) steadied the ship with a stand of 72 for the fifth wicket.

Ollie Gough (24 no) and Shaun Walker (20) added vital scores down the order to ensure Chirk reached 185-8 in 36.3, Scott Randall 3-46 for the hosts.

DIVISION SIX

Chirk 2nd XI (8) 214-5 Ludlow 3rd XI (20) 215-6

Chirk seconds keep on playing well but not quite getting the results.

Saturday saw the North Wales side bat first at Holyhead Road and chalk up a very respectable 214-5 off 40, Dale Randall 68, Ian Skinner 64 and Rob Williams 31.

Ludlow thirds needed something special to win it, and it came from opener Simon Fletcher, who cracked a dominant 137 not out.

Fellow opener Toby Oxborrow made 45, but then Ludlow endured five ducks in a row before making the finish line at 215-6 off 36.1.

Dan Conde scooped 3-32 and Rob Williams 2-12 for the never-say-die hosts.