Price hails “huge result” as Newtown secure Premier status.
By Jamie Dowley
Premier Division cricket will again be played in Mid Wales in 2026 after Newtown came out 5 wicket winners over in form Allscott Heath, in a match shifted to Morda Rd Oswestry owing to square work starting at The Recreation Ground. With David Laird striking 3 times with the new ball, Allscott were soon in trouble and despite 22 from Kuldeep Devatwal the innings was wrapped up for just 71 as once again the spin pair of Nathan Smith and Sam Baugh came to the fore, with a combined 9.5 overs- 5 wickets for 9 runs to cement their places as the leading slow bowling partnership in the league. Callum Starling’s side didn’t go down without a fight however and at 42-4 they had an outside sniff of getting back into the contest with Luke Thornton taking 3-33, but Laird saw the job through with an unbeaten 29.
Winning captain Ben Price “ That’s a huge result for us, we have spoken about trying to secure our place before the final week so we are delighted to get the job done. We seem to reserve our best cricket for the better sides, as we ran Wellington close 2 weeks ago and were gutted to lose that one, and that proves we can more than compete at this level. We hope to strengthen in the winter and add one or two to the group and then go again next season”
With Newtown getting an early win in the bank, Madeley knew they had to match that result if they were to avoid finishing in 11th place and they gave a very good account of themselves at Wem but ultimately fell to a 3 wicket defeat, a result that practically ensures Jim Astleys side finish 2nd. Batting first the visitors were reduced to 29-3, and although they briefly threatened a recovery, once Mithun and Ollie departed for 21 and 22 respectively the innings somewhat fell away. That was mainly due to another fine performance from Ralph Davies as the 14 year old added to his burgeoning reputation with 4-23 from 10 overs, although earlier Alex Ollerneshaw with 3-45 and Tom Astley with 2-12 had also contributed. Overseas pro Mithun has enjoyed an excellent 2nd season for Madeley and here the visitors gambled by bowling him right through from the start and his 3-15 off 10 overs helped reduce Wem to 71-6 of which Tyler Ibbotson made 24. The wobbles were on but step forward Matt Cohen, the experienced right hander is another playing having a real renaissance after a couple of lean years and here he saw the job through with an unbeaten 26, as the hosts got home 7 wickets down.
Jim Astley “If we finish 2nd as we now should (they need 2 points from final game) it will be a pretty decent season. Ralph was class again today and also Alex was superb again with the new and old ball”
Spectators at Heath Rd were treated to probably the Premier Division game of the season as an absorbing and high quality contest went down to the final ball of the match. Opener Mike Robinson showed what Shifnal could be missing by producing a magnificent run-a-ball century, his 115 was the chief contribution in a Whitchurch total of 272-8, with stalwart Mohammed Fahim also in superb form with 90, as 10 man St Georges had a day to forget in the field with mistakes a plenty. Only Faisal Khan with 5-49 could be content among the Dragons bowlers as his side appeared to be having a bad day. The Dragons reply was a patient one, Ibrahim Java made 23, but at the halfway point they had only reached 91-2 although Sunny Singh and Faizan Khan were going nicely. When Singh then departed for 61, it was time for Zab Safi to enter the stage and his explosive 46 off 22 balls turned the match around, as the Dragons suddenly looked likely winners as Faizan also started to cut loose. Young pace bowler Alex Heath off his long run then struck 3 times (and had a hattrick dropped by mid off) to turn the game again, but with Faizan still there his side needed 10 off the final over. A four and a single brought up the Pakistani pros 100, and when he got the strike back he was able to hit the final ball for four to launch wild celebrations in the away changing room while one of the umpires stated it was the best game of cricket he had been involved in in years with the match played in great spirit. Good to hear!
Whitchurch chairman Iain Marsh “That game had everything , some outstanding batting from Mike and Fahim on our side and Faizan and Safi were excellent for them while we saw some great fast bowling from Alex also. Although we didn’t get the win it was a brilliant match to be a part of and fair play to Georges, we seem to win thrillers at their place and they do at ours! Still, thanks to Wem beating Madeley we are safe now and the planning for next season will start right away, we will be better next year have no fear”
Shelton secured 8th spot in Simon Jones fourth and final year as captain with a very good win at Ludlow that owed much to the bowling of Jack Morris and the batting of Viv John. Home opener Luke Miles has had another decent season, if not quite to 2024 levels but here he made a solid 55 at the top of the order and Jack Condiffe chipped in with 32 as their side made 167ao. Morris took a seasons best 5-41, Jones 3-37 and Sam Griffiths 2-14 as the hosts failed to utilise 8 overs. Viv John played a solid anchor role carrying his bat for 74 as others scored around him as the visitors reached their target in 37 overs with 4 wickets in hand, Morris their at the end on 18no to complete a superb all round match for the former Newtown all-rounder. Jason Oakes with 3-34 was the pick of the Ludlow bowling, a result that means Ludlow need other results to go their way to secure a top 3 finish on the last day.
Simon Jones “Its not the season we were hoping for but at the same time 8th is a great effort without an overseas for 75% of the season. Jack was excellent today and Viv showed a lot of maturity for his age, they are two talented cricketers. It would be nice to finish with a win after what seems 4 long years, I will hopefully be playing for a few more years yet, but its time for a change and to freshen things up”
Wellington put in a true champions performance at home to Sentinel and after the game were presented with the trophy by League Chairman Howard Sanders and Treasurer Liam O’Neill (pictured). Earlier in the piece all the home top three made hay, Luke Goring getting the innings off to a flyer with 62 off 51 balls before steadier knocks from Dan Vaughan (69) and Matt Simmonds (77) . There were also late cameos from Will Lewin (45) and Morgan Ward (29no) that saw their side amass 315-7, as the Sentinel attack wilted in the September sunshine. Their batting display was also one to forget as despite having reached 120-4 they then collapsed to 125ao as in form Simmonds completed another sensational game with 4-15 off 10 overs and Brian Mudzinganyama grabbed 3 late wickets. Sentinel will now probably need a win at home to Ludlow next week to ensure that top half finish that they have occupied since week 1.
Finally Quatt secured south east Shropshire bragging rights after a solid 106 run win at neighbours Bridgnorth. Batting first, Alex Biddle’s side made steady progress as 27 from Chris Miller laid a platform for Joshua Greef with 46 and a league seasons best of 71 from Ryan Wheldon enabling a score of 247ao. Jed Schwarzbach has been one of the more unsung overseas players in the division this year but once again he made a useful contribution with 4-66. Bridgnorth’s reply never really got going although Ian Gregory did make 37 and Mo Momen Khan held out for 31no, as they were dismissed for 141, with Scott Furber in impressive form with 3-21 off 10 overs and James Lunn assisting with 3-39
So we reach the last week of the Premier Division season with frankly little to play for on the final day. Rather disappointing really.
Look out for my last weekly report and then a team by team review and my select XI of the year.
