2025 Premier Division Round Up Week 4

Another undefeated century for star man Dan Lloyd (pictured front row and centre) enabled Wellington to comfortably overpower Quatt at Orleton Park, a result that sends Alex Biddle’s side into the bottom 3. Like last week, the home side lost their captain and pro early, both wickets falling to the excellent Ryan Wheldon, but Lloyd found willing partners in the consistent Matt Simmonds (33) and Luke Goring (44), and once again he was able to nicely pace his innings to bring his hundred up in the 49th over. Quatt’s bowlers stuck at the task but in truth a score of 242-5 was always likely to prove hard to chase down on a home track that tends to get slower and lower as the game progresses. Young paceman Ollie Smith is highly rated by many keen judges and the Worcester Academy prospect showed his potential with a fine opening burst, his 3-17 knocked over the Quatt top order, and despite 35 from Chris Miller and 34 from Luke Daly, it was left to Simmonds (3-56) and Brian Mudzinganyama (2-10) to finish the job for Dan Vaughans men. 

Wellington captain Dan Vaughan “it was another great win for us against an experienced Quatt side who give you nothing. Lloydy is in tremendous form and anchored the innings  and it enabled the likes of Luke Goring to play a nice cameo that accelerated it for us. Ollie Smith was superb again with the new ball to start us on our way, and we were able to close it out pretty comfortably.”

Talking of back-to-back tons, Ben Matthews of Shelton played another gem of an innings as his side earnt local bragging rights over previously undefeated Sentinel in chasing down 219 with plenty of overs to spare. Not for the first time the Engines top order offered little resistance and at 6-3 it was down to Ed Ashlin to lead the recovery just as he has in every game so far this season. Like last week v Whitchurch, Simon Jones and Sam Griffiths caused havoc in the first 10 overs, but when their opening spells had finished, Ashlin (71) found a willing partner in Connor Cheshire (55), their partnership of 102 set it up for John Leah (25) and Jonny Evans (29) for some good lower order hitting that got them a reasonable total to defend. As per usual Jones and Griffiths were the pick of the home attack the captain with 3-31 and his partner going one better with 4-41. In reply, the hosts lost Viv John early but that brought new pro Yuvraj Sharma to join Matthews and they managed a useful partnership of 70, until the pro departed for 25. Saleh Ahmed then played a fine supporting role to Matthews, who once again showed his class bringing up his century in the 37th over and despite a flurry of 3 late wickets, Ahmed closed out the game with an unbeaten 70. 

Shelton skipper Simon Jones “Ben was brutal again today another super knock, but Saleh looked equally good in his chanceless innings, their different styles complementing each other. Pleased the overseas situation is finally sorted, Yuvy looks a serious player so I’m hoping we can put a string of results together now”

The big derby in the north of the county saw Wem overwhelm rivals Whitchurch, a result that condemns Dan Bowen’s side to their 4th straight defeat. Batting first the visitors total of 171 never really looked like being enough on a gem of a wicket prepared by home curator Shaun Astley. At 92-1 it could have been a different matter but when Mas Hasnain (36) and in form Iffy Khan (55) both departed, the innings quickly subsided with number 5 bat Adan Hussain being left stranded on 27no. South African Karabo Mogotsi was the pick of the home bowlers with 3-36 while captain Jim Astley weighed in with 3-37 as the Whitchurch lower order wilted in the hot sunshine. The Wem reply was all about one man, Harry Chandler, as the fluent left hander entertained the decent crowd with a swashbuckling array of cuts and pulls. Dan Bowen shuffled his bowlers, using 7 in short order but they all took some punishment as the star wicketkeeper bat was able to bring up a superb hundred in the 27th over and then hit the winning runs in the next, after receiving some support from Mogotsi who struck a cool 31no. 

I spoke with a happy captain Jim Astley after the game. “That was a quality knock from Chandler, when he’s in that form he’s different class. We felt they were a good few runs under par, our slow bowlers Harry (Astley) and Karabo really turned the screw in the middle overs but the way Chando was batting I would have fancied us to chase anything down. We had a tough couple of weeks on the road where we didn’t really get the breaks, so it’s pleasing to get back to winning ways in a derby we haven’t always performed in”

Talking of happy captains, they don’t come much cheerier than St Georges club captain Faisal Khan who was at the crease as they won a frantic game at Bridgnorth, thanks partly but not totally to a breathtaking hundred from Zab Safi.  Batting first for the first time this season a quality 82 from veteran Peter Scott was the chief contribution in a home total of 228-6, with Arjun Cheruki also showing willing with 56. Shah Fiaz was the best bowler for the Dragons with 4-36, while Faisal and Sunny Singh, both kept it tight. The Georges reply was a bizarre and frenetic effort, wickets and runs kept flowing in the power plays, they were 56-4 after just 5.3 overs, with Safi smashing the bowling all over the park. But even when he departed for a 39 ball 101 (6 x 4  and 11 x 6 and I think the fastest hundred in Premier Division history), the game looked in the balance at 133-5 off just 11.2 overs! It was left to the cool heads of Mo Raheel Khattak (59no) and Faisal (20no) to see it home as the Dragons won by 4 wickets with only half the allotted 50 overs gone.

Faisal Khan: “What can I say? We started well with the ball today but credit Bridgnorth they got a score on the board. Safi was exceptional, only 36 balls for his ton, incredible innings, and Raheel made a crucial 59 too with me supporting him. We are a newly put together side and it takes time to gel, but I feel the gelling is now happening. Next week is another big test for us versus Wem but we look forward to it”

The fifth century of the day was a superb captains’ knock from Ludlow’s Jason Oakes, the South African contributing 119 for his 9th ton in the SCCL in just over 4 years, as his side stuttered to 196-9 against Newtown. At 122-8 it looked tricky for Ludlow, but Oakes persuaded Joe Williams to hang around, as  the captain farmed the strike expertly in a partnership of 71 that ultimately proved decisive.  For the Welshmen, Sam Baugh impressed with 4-31, while Nathan Smith also shone with 3-26. Like last week the visitors batting lacked sustenance, as despite a healthy run rate (they scored at 6 an over despite only needing 4), wickets fell throughout at regular intervals. Only Marco Malan looked likely to take the game away from Ludlow, his 35 ball 60 was ended by that man Oakes whose 3-50 came from just 5 overs, as Newtown were shot out for 142. So, another win for Ludlow, they are the surprise packages so far, while Newtown will be concerned by their batting frailties with some tough game  to come in the next few weeks.

Last but not least is arguably the result of the day as Madeley turned over undefeated Allscott Heath in convincing fashion at Park Street. Salin Ahmed played his usual obdurate knock at the top of the order, his fine 64 set it up for overseas pro Mithun Jayawickrema to score both his first half century and then century in his 2nd season with the club.  His 107no off 103 balls has been a long time coming but the classy Sri Lankan helped his side to a solid total of 239-6. For the visitors, Callum Starling led by example his 2-18 off 10, was an outstanding effort in the conditions. The form Allscott have been in they would have fancied chasing the runs but in truth the innings never took off, once Martin Boyle had struck 3 times with the new ball. Nad Ahmed also took 3 scalps, and it all meant a 126 run defeat for Allscott, that knocks them off joint top spot down into 4th.

Madeley captain Martin Boyle: “It’s a great win for us against a strong Allscott side, and it was the first time this season we have managed to put together an all round performance, it was impressive knock from Mithun , what we have been waiting for and hopefully more to come. Our bowling performance was very strong with the breakthroughs at the top of the order crucial, so all in all a really good day for us”