Cricket: Sad ending for Chirk firsts, but seconds go out with a real bang

SHROPSHIRE COUNTY CRICKET LEAGUE

DIVISION ONE

Cound 1st XI (20) 81-3 Chirk 1st XI (1) 79-10

After a season which for so long promised the possibility of promotion or even the Division One title itself, Chirk finished up fifth following three defeats in their final four matches.

Travelling to mid-table Cound for their last game, Chirk were put into bat and bowled out for a disappointing 79, only Wynn Jones (35) and Nick Flack (19) making double figures.

Joe Yapp claimed a remarkable 5-1 for the hosts.

Count took their time in reaching a winning 81-3 in 29.4 overs, Flack taking 2-13.

Some good individual efforts over the season for Chirk included Liam Walker, who notched 572 runs including a century for the seconds.

Nick Flack made an excellent 568 league runs for the firsts, with Wynn Jones hitting 516 including a maiden century.

Bowling-wise, the returning Jonathan Phillips picked up an outstanding 42 league wickets for the firsts.

Plenty of promise to build on for next season.

DIVISION SIX

Chirk 2nd XI (20) 249-8 Cound 2nd XI (8) 185-4

On the final day of a dismal season which saw them rock bottom and winning just twice in their first 21 matches, Chirk seconds ended on a real high by beating a Cound team some way above them in the standings.

Put into bat, the hosts hammered 249-8 off 40 overs, Dan Conde striking 86 and number eight bat Stephen Conner 78 not out.

Openers Gary Bailey (28) and David Lunt (23) got things off to a nice start for the home team.

Despite 104 not out from Matthew Jones, Cound seconds got nowhere near their opponents’ total, ending on 185-4.

Jack Morris took 2-39 for Chirk seconds, who said farewell to 2022 with a real bang.