Five-wicket heroes Gardner and Flack guide Chirk to a thrilling victory

SHROPSHIRE CRICKET LEAGUE

DIVISION ONE

Chirk 1st XI (24) 85-10
Shifnal 2nd XI (4) 68-10

Luke Gardner and Nick Flack were both five-wicket heroes as Chirk’s first team won a low-scorer at Holyhead Road.

The home side were put into bat and could only muster 85 not out from 37.4 overs.

Chirk reached 32-1 before losing three wickets on that score.

Opener Liam Walker stayed firm for his 30, but the only other batsman to reach double figures was Jonathan Phillips with 18.

Daniel Hill took 5-33 for the visitors, Alex Renton claimed 3-0 off 4.4 and Mark Bissell scooped 2-23 from 14.

Chirk did not have many runs to play with, but their opening bowlers Gardner and Flack were on the money from ball one.

At one stage, Shifnal were 1-4! They crawled and wobbled along to 11-6 and 25-8 before Richard Firmstone (20 not out) and William Firmstone (18) put on 43 for wicket nine.

There was relief all round when Gardner bowled William Firmstone and the skipper also trapped Hill lbw for 0, Shifnal’s innings ceasing 17 runs short of the home total.

Gardner snared joint best ever figures of 5-20 off 11 overs and Flack grabbed 5-30 from 10. Points: 24-4 for Chirk.

DIVISION EIGHT

Guilsfield 2nd XI (24) Chirk 2nd XI (-5)
Chirk seconds conceded