Shropshire Cricket League – battling draw for Chirk firsts and great win for the seconds

SHROPSHIRE COUNTY CRICKET LEAGUE REPORTS JUNE 24

DIVISION ONE

Worfield 2nd XI (18) 240-7 Chirk 1st XI (5) 149-9

Chirk held on grimly for a draw at Davenport Park on Saturday.

Results like this do question the wisdom of having a cricket competition where a 45-overs-per-side contest can end in a draw.

Had this been a limited overs North Wales League game, the wide gap in the scores meant Worfield seconds would have won comfortably, but these are the rules clubs signed up for in the Shropshire League and they must be abided by.

Worfield seconds won the toss and elected to bat, chalking up 240-7 off their 45, Tom Parker hitting 63 and Will McGarry 62.

For Chirk, Jonathan Phillips took 2-38, Nick Flack 2-51 and Andrew Swarbrick 2-59.

In response, the visitors got nowhere near the home total and at 100-7 looked all but beaten.

However, some late runs and spirited last-wicket pair Luke Gardner and Ed Hayhurst saw them to 149-9 when the overs ran out.

Flack top-scored with 44, Phillips adding 24, Calvin Priest best bowler for the hosts with 3-23.

DIVISION EIGHT

Chirk 2nd XI (20) 147-2 Sentinel 3rd XI (3) 143-10

A fine all-round show from Chirk seconds earned them a home success at the expense of a Sentinel outfit which beat them at home by three wickets seven days earlier.

Revenge was sweet for the North Wales side as they won the toss and dismissed the Shrewsbury team for 143 after asking them to bat.

Rob Williams took 3-7, Chris Hughes 3-23 and Rhys Evans 2-10.

Chirk made it to 147-2 in just 28,4 overs in reply, opener Hughes matching his fine bowling effort by scoring 61 with the bat.