Career best bowling and batting seven days apart for Chirk seconds captain – firsts also win

SHROPSHIRE COUNTY CRICKET LEAGUE

DIVISION TWO

Wroxeter and Uppington 1st XI (8) 145-10 Chirk 1st XI (21) 156-10

Chirk won by 11 runs in a tight contest at The Morro Homes Avenue against the second-place team in Division Two..

Winning the toss and electing to bat, the North Wales side posted a score of 156 all out off 36.5 overs, skipper Nick Flack topping the chart with 37, Mark Shaw 25 and Gareth Partridge 24, Rutang Patel 3-9 and Callum Hodson 3-33 for the hosts.

Wroxeter and Uppington were always in the hunt in reply, but finished up bowled out just short on 145.

Nitish Sharma pocketed 3-28 and Andrew Swarbrick 2-37 for the visitors, who sit third in the standings.

DIVISION EIGHT

Chirk 2nd XI (20) 281-5 Pontesbury 2nd XI (6) 185-8

One week after recording a career-best bowling analysis, Chirk seconds captain Dale Randall followed up with his highest score with the bat.

Randall struck his fifth career century, a top total of 129, as the hosts amassed 281-5 off 40 overs against leaders Pontesbury seconds after winning the toss and electing to bat.

After losing an early wicket, Randall and veteran Shaun Walker (93) put together a big stand for the home side.

Randall’s effort included 22 fours, while Walker pounded 16 boundaries and a six.

Although he did not add to his five career tons, it was Walker’s highest knock in some years.

Visitors Pontesbury were limited to 185-8 in reply, Randall with the leading bowling return of 3-14, Adam Harris posting 67 for the away side.

Chirk seconds won by 96 runs and 20-6 on points. They are now second in the table, just two points behind Pontesbury.