Sentinel sizzler as they send Whitchurch sliding
By Jamie Dowley
After 2 weeks of highly competitive action we have a four-way tie at the top of the table as Ludlow, Allscott, Sentinel and Wellington all produced back to back victories, while four teams remain winless.
“We are playing very good cricket but we mustn’t get ahead of ourselves” was the verdict from Sentinel captain Ed Ashlin as his charges put in another great team display and sent Champions Whitchurch to the bottom of the table at this admittedly early stage of the season. Once again the champs batting fell short of what was required, at least this week they had the technically gifted Iftikhar Khan holding it all together, the right hander putting in his usual easy on the eye innings in composing 74. From 153-5 with 11 overs left they should have made 200 but the fragile nature of the visitors middle and lower order reared its head again and they were shot out for 163 off just 44 overs. Overseas Aryan Dixit on debut was held back until 7 others had bowled but he showed his worth taking 4-5 to wrap up the away innings. Dan Bowen’s bowling unit is always in the game however and with Alex Heath once again impressing in taking 3 wickets with the new ball (ending with 4-41), captain Ashlin had to dig in, his 24no assisted by Jacob Binnersley (23) and Connor Cheshire (21) saw the Engines home by 4 wickets in 36 overs. I grabbed a word with Whitchurch chairman Iain Marsh after the game “its been a total disaster of a start, the batting looks so delicate and we aren’t valuing our wickets. And yet like last week another 40 runs and we probably win. Still we were in this same position last year (0 from 2) and won the league so I’m not writing us off just yet but its not looking good”
Another skipper leading from the front is Dan Vaughan at Wellington as he played another solid innings this time reaching 3 figures in his sides total of 255-7 at Madeley. His 113 alongside a nice 47 from Matt Simmonds set the game up and it always looked a challenging total on a wicket at Park Street that was conducive to spin. The home reply was indepted to a good half century from Salim Ahmed, with Oli Davis also making a breezy 30 but Ollie Smih showed his potential again with the new ball taking 2 victims, and it was left for Simmonds, Matt Stinson and overseas Brian Mudzinganyama to wrap up the game taking the other wickets.
Dan Vaughan: “It’s a decent win for us, give Madeley credit they gave it a decent go chasing, I was impressed with their opener Sal, but we felt we had the run rate under control throughout. Simmonds had another good all round game, I grafted for a score again and the bowlers kept it tight so all in all we are in a good place right now”
Allscott Heath put in a superb performance once again as they comprehensively outgunned much fancied St Georges by 9 wickets. Luke Thornton struck with the first ball of the match to dismiss Ibrahim Java lbw, and when he also dismissed dangerman Simon Khomeri, it was a along way back for the Dragons. Only Overseas Pro Faizan Khan got stuck in, his 59 was priceless in a score of 135ao in just 35 overs with home pro Kuldeep Devatwal unpayable in an outstanding spell of 5-12 from 10 overs. The Allscott reply was highly convincing, Max Ferrington with a solid 30, and with that man Jason Summers playing marvellous cricket again this season the win was easily achieved, his unbeaten 80 impressed watching League President Gordon Smith no end, and leaves Callum Starling with a maximum 40 points in his dream start as captain.
Game of the day looked to be the heavyweight match between Quatt and Wem, two sides who had differing fortunes last week but it was the hosts who produced a solid team performance to run out 7 wicket winners. Wem batting first had reached 88-2, but when Harry Chandler went for 36, the innings somewhat deteriorated and an order which looked slightly top heavy on paper could only muster 156ao inside 39 overs. Wickets were shared amongst the home bowlers, Joshua Greef and Scott Furber taking a brace each (one of Greef’s was a superb caught and bowled to dismiss Karabo Magotsi- check out the footage on Quatts excellent Youtube stream) and Jed Edwards a tidy 3-18. In reply Wem made early inroads, losing Ryan Wheldon and Greef to a run out by Martyn Davies after a miscommunication with Tom Whitney. At 25-2 it looked wide open but thereafter Whitney made amends, his 78no saw his side comfortably home, captain Alex Biddle assisting with 32no to give Quatt their first win of the season. A happy Biddle spoke afterwards, “It was a good bounce back win for us. Our spinners did a great job in the middle overs, and Tom then showed his quality and value, we don’t lose many at home and its good to start well at the Oval”
Ludlow and their star bowler Joe Williams have had a brilliant start to the season, however their 42 run victory at Bridgnorth owed much to the 83 by captain Jason Oakes, as well as 47 from Luke Miles and 37 from Deon Patel in a total of 247ao, albeit they are another side who batted first and failed to use all the overs. Ian Gregory chipped in with 3 wickets for the hosts while there were braces for Matt Martin, Arslan Awan and Fazl Ur Rahman. Just like last week against Wem, the Bridgnorth batters didn’t let themselves down, Gregory completing a decent all round match with 55, while young overseas player Jed Schwarzbach made 32. At 181-5 with 12 overs left, they were right in the game but that man Williams is already into double figures for the season, his 5-9 ripped through the lower order as winless Bridgnorth fell to 205ao. Ludlow chairman Phil Parker said “its been great to start the season well as it boosts the confidence of the players. Joe has been exceptional for us in taking 11 wickets but next week Wem will be a real tough test for us”
Finally, Newtown will be delighted to get a win on the board in impressive fashion at Shelton who themselves are already under the pump after two defeats. Despite 4 wickets for the tidy Jack Morris (4-33), and a trio for Ross Griffiths the Welshmen were able to post a fine total of 253ao, skipper David Laird with 63 leading the way, with plenty of other smaller contributions across the order. The Shelton reply never really got going once Laird had struck with the new ball, and despite 28 from Saleh Ahmed the hosts were dismissed for 105, overseas Marco Malan bowling excellently for 4-24.
Onto week 3 and Quatt will look to maintain their lengthy unbeaten home record as they take on joint leaders Allscott while Sentinel travel to St Georges knowing a win at Church Street could really launch a title challenge.
