2025 Premier Division Round Up - Week 14
By Jamie Dowley
Baugh 7fer in vain as Jones and Griffiths have the last laugh.
Sheltons trip to Newtown had potential to be a low scoring affair with two very strong bowling attacks allied to question marks over the solidity of both batting units, and so it proved despite the visitors getting off to a fine start at 48-0. With Newtown captain Ben Price then turning to his spin pair of Sam Baugh and Nathan Smith, the duo seemed to have formed a formidable partnership and this time it was Baugh who did the majority of the damage. The former Bridgnorth left armer turned in a divisional season's best of 7-21 off 12 overs, while offspinner Smith took 2-38 off 11 overs as Shelton were blown away for 106 to put Newtown on top at halfway. They were runs that still had to be got however against pound for pound the best new ball pair in the league and Sam Griffiths hit his straps taking 4 early scalps, including dangerman David Laird as the Welshmen were reduced to 15-4. It was then over to another Welshman, Shelton captain Jones and he did the rest taking 5-15 as Newtown were dismissed for 52. A big win for the West Shrewsbury side that should go a long way to quell any relegation worries, whereas Newtown still have plenty more work to do to secure their status for 2026.
Quatt will be hoping they can put some gloss on a pretty disappointing season with a strong showing in the Hundred finals day, after they came up against an inspired Alex Ollerenshaw (pictured) new ball spell at Soulton Rd. The former Shrewsbury pace bowler who has perhaps been unlucky to be overlooked in representative cricket this season, struck 4 times and along with Tom Astley reduced the visitors to 58-6. Ollerenshaw bowled unchanged for 15 overs, taking 4-35 and Astley ended on 4-73 as visiting skipper Alex Biddle found a willing partner for a Quatt recovery in James Lunn , putting on exactly 100 for the 7th wicket. Biddle ending on 69 and Lunn 43, and the Quatt hierarchy would have been delighted to have reached 196-8 off 50 after such a poor start. Lunn then struck straight away in the Wem reply dismissing in form Sam Peate for a duck, but county opening batsman Harry Chandler took the game away from Biddle’s men, his crisp 75 allied to 44 from Karabo Mogotsi and 46 from Tyler Ibbotson enabled a 5 wicket win for Jim Astley’s in form side.
Sentinel were unfortunate to be on the wrong end of a rain affected draw at Heath Rd, Whitchurch when it looked for all money they were going to take maximum points. In a game initially reduced to 45 overs a side, the Engines were flying at 75-3 off 11 overs but then an outstanding spell from leg spinner Shabbir Khan of 4-23 from 14 overs really pegged back the innings. Connor Cheshire with 40, and a dogged 25 from Ed Ashlin saw them reach 132-5 before 5 quick wickets finished the innings at 140. That was thanks in part due to Alex Heath, the local boy ending with 4-32, and he is now past 30 wickets for the league season. The home reply just never got off the ground however, with 51 year old Shane Gwilt once again showing he has lost none of his skill and control, his booming inswingers accounted for 4 of the top order with only Inam Ul Haq (34) making a score. At 95-8 it looked odds on an away win, but with weather about the tail were able to see out the rest of the innings and a 40 minute rain break meant they eventually had to bat for just an additional 1.3 overs to secure an improbable target winning draw. No doubt plenty of head scratching in the away changing room at probably 15 lost points but “thems the breaks” as a former Prime Minister once famously said.
Allscott added to their growing reputation with another convincing win this time across town at St Georges, a side who are proving to be massively inconsistent. With rain around it was a useful toss for Callum Starling to win and he took full advantage personally with a fine spell of 3-67 off 15 overs. Brad Thornton went one better, his 4-42 piled the pressure on the Dragons, only Zab Safi with 40 striking at 200, and some lower order hitting got a score of 154 on the board before Jason Summers wrapped up proceedings with 2-17. The visitors had 55 overs to chase down the total but only required 32 of them, Mohammed Adall top scoring with 42, Kuldeep Devatwal making 40 and Luke Thornton seeing it home with 37no to give Callum Starling a 2nd “double” of the season after they did likewise to Whitchurch.
Ludlow were in a spot of bother at 88-6 at home to Bridgnorth but fortunately still had Jason Oakes at the crease and he was able to guide the lower order to a score 224ao . The South African struck 89 while numbers 9 and 10, Louis Watkins and Salahuddin Malik each made exactly 25. For the visitors, Fazl Ur Rahman continued his good season with 4-55 while Peter Scott nipped in with 3-49. Bridgnorth have been competitive with the bat this season but on this occasion it wasn’t to be, Ian Gregory made 34 as they were reduced to 107-9 with only a last wicket partnership of 43 between Mark Macpherson-Lees and Rahman putting some gloss on it. Joe Williams took 4-48, the left armer spinner is now up to 39 league wickets and is just ahead of the chasing pack, with Luke Miles taking 3-42.
Finally league leaders Wellington were in no mood to hang around as they dispatched lowly Madeley at Orleton Park with the minimum of fuss. Bowling first the young new ball pair of Hugh Morris and Ollie Smith soon got stuck in, Andy Laycock fell in the first over and after that a succession of Madeley batsmen made starts but failed to go on. However at 71-3 there was no sign of the carnage to come as the innings then imploded to 89ao. Morris with 3-41, Smith 3-15 and the consistent Matt Simmonds 4-28. Wellington did lose 4 wickets in the chase but were always comfortable and Dan Vaughan will be delighted to chalk up another victory after the odd recent stutter.
Next week sees Madeley entertain Newtown in what looks a must win game for the hosts, while Wem will be keen to avenge their defeat at Ludlow earlier in the season.
