2026 SCCL Premier Division round Up Week 16
By Jamie Dowley
With 6 weeks to go we are heading for the most exciting title race in the league's history with 5 teams separated by just 23 points, after a day of drama which saw crucial results at both ends of the table.
Allscott Heath stun Quatt as leaders start to look nervy
The SCCL title race took a huge twist as red hot Allscott Heath struck down leaders and title favourites Quatt in a high pressure 34 run victory at the ACG. Visiting skipper Jamie Lunn forwent his usual bat first approach and inserted the hosts, a decision that looked entirely vindicated as both openers Maz Hasnain and Jason Summers were dismissed for 1. That brought Max Ferrington to the crease who forged a 50 partnership with Kuldeep Devatwal and when Ferrington fell for 22, Luke Thornton added 76 with the pro to drag Alscott back into the game. Thornton made 27, Devatwal 84 and with a late cameo from Bryn Simmons who struck 26no, the hosts were able to reach 192-8 off 50 overs. Dan Handley was the pick of the away bowlers he took an outstanding 5-54 from his full 15 overs, while Todd Henderson bowled 7 maidens , but only got through 9 overs as Lunn, who took 2-19 himself shuffled his bowlers throughout. Quatt overseas pro Nipun has taken to opening in recent games, but here he was quickly burning through partners as an outstanding new ball spell from both Callum Starling (3-31) and Luke Thornton (3-43) gave Allscott control of the game. Nipun was still there but at 72-6, they were running out of lives, although James Ralph (21) in at number 8 did forge a recovery with the pro. From there the Allscott spinners entered the fray and with Summers striking twice, Nipun was in danger of being stranded at 125-9. He decided to cut loose and with last man Gareth Jones took the score up to 158, before being caught on the boundary for 86, to provoke justified celebrations in the home camp.
Callum Starling “Another great team performance, superb from our bowlers to defend that score, we took wickets at important times and didn’t let them settle, their overseas had it all to do, but he couldn’t quite get them over the line” And can they gatecrash the title party? “We won’t change our approach, take each Saturday as it comes but it's great we are mixing it at the right end of the table. However, I think St Georges will really take some stopping now”
St Georges in 7th Heaven after Ashish masterclass.
The SCCL is blessed with 3 outstanding overseas pros, and it's St Georges Ashish Ashish (pictured) who is leading his side's title charge as they close the gap on Quatt to just 13 points after their 7th straight WDL win, this time at fellow high fliers Wem. The hosts won the toss and inserted St Georges who were soon in trouble following a high class new ball spell from Alex Ollerenshaw who reduced the visitors to 47-4. That was as good as it got for Wem, as Amritpal Singh was joined by Ashish and the pair put on 166 with the pro the massively dominant partner. Amritpal fell for 55, and that allowed KJ Sullivan to score a quick 31, but it was Ashish who rightly took the plaudits with his magnificent 136. Ollerenshaw’s figures of 15-2-56-5 were superb in the context as the other home bowlers took some punishment in a total of 299-8 off 50. Any chase would rely on Abhishek Reddy but the Indian pro fresh of the back of his twin tons last Sunday fell first ball and with the rest of the top order blown away by Shah Fiaz and Ali Mustafa, the back was broken off the Wem Innings and at 34-5 it was a just a matter of time. Tyler Ibbotson (38) and Harry Astley (27) did claw back some respectability but Fiaz (5-53) returned to wrap up the game with Mustafa (2-32) and Sullivan (2-24) also chipping in. A big win for St Georges.
Faisal Khan “Some great performances from us today, the 166 partnership between Anritpal and Ashish put us in a commanding position, and Ali Mustafa getting Reddy first ball was massive to reduce them to 2-2. Our job now is to win the next 5 and take it to the last game (against Quatt). We are on a huge role , and it's been an amazing week to win the 100 for the first time ever for this club is a huge achievement for us, and all the club is very proud. Next week is Whitchurch they beat us at their place so we have some unfinished business to attend to”
Ward hundred helps Wellington keep pace
A maiden Premier Division century from 17 year old Morgan Ward helped Wellington to a comfortable 118 run win at Park Street, Madeley. The Northants Academy youngster was at the scene of his first club and his 124 run partnership with captain Dan Vaughan was the bedrock of a team total of 281-5 declared. The pair came together after Martin Boyle had struck twice, and with Vaughan playing very well for 80, Ward was able to go through the gears as he made 103no off just 86 balls, with late cameos from David Laird (26) and Hugh Morris (21no) also allowing the side to declare with 8 overs left to bat. Boyle plugged away for 3-67 but with 58 overs to survive, it looked odds on a Wellington win at the interval. The hosts battled away and with contributions from Andrew Laycock (25), Bas Ahmad (26), Mithun (30), and Oli Davis (22), they showed plenty of fight but with Vaughan rotating his bowlers throughout, Josh McDonald again took the plaudits with 3-39, while Hugh Morris chipped in with 2-16 as Madeley were dismissed for a creditable 163.
Dan Vaughan “Superb knock from Morgan, on a used pitch that was tough going, while we gave a debut to our 15 year old spinner Dilawar Younis who wrapped up the game with a wicket. We know that realistically we have to win every game between now and the end of the season to win the league but we also know we are capable of doing that “
Davies’ spectacular innings gives Newtown cause for hope
An incredible career best 121 from Griff Davies dragged Newtown from the depths of despair to breathe life into a season that looked almost over, as they emerged with a winning draw against Sentinel. After electing to bat first, home captain Dave Anthony must have looked on in horror as both openers fell for ducks, and with Jacob Binnersley and Cameron Watson wreaking havoc the Welshmen were reduced to 59-5, and subsequently 99-6. But with Davies able to score freely at one end, partnerships were built with both John Anthony (15) and Nathan Smith (48), with the 8th wicket adding 109 crucial runs , as the hosts made an impressive 269ao. Binnersley plugged away for 5-73 while Watson and Nick Bateup each collected 2 wickets. The Sentinel reply was a fairly solid affair, although it was very much a safety first approach with Muhammad Zaheer the main performer as he compiled 82, while Bateup (46) and Ed Ashlin (28) dug in for the losing draw which they achieved ending on 223-7. Nathan Smith completed a fine game with 4-63, while Harry Aldridge impressed with 3-46. Newtown took 14 points Sentinel 10.
David Anthony “That was a brilliant high pressure innings from Griff, he was magnificent and didn’t give a chance. We have finally got out of our losing run and want to go on a winning one now and give ourselves a chance of staying up”
Navindu the difference as Sri Lankan shines
Shelton are starting to look safe after they defeated Ludlow by 5 wickets in West Shrewsbury, a result that drags the visitors back into a relegation scrap. Electing to bat first, Ludlow opener Sam Edwards played a trademark innings as he battled for 42 and received support from Luke Miles (31), Ben Griffiths (20) and Deon Patel (40) in a total of 197ao, an innings that faded away as offspinner Ross Griffiths picked up 4-32 late on. Earlier in the piece Sam Griffiths took 3-51, while in form Simon Jones (pictured below) once again kept things tight with 1-35 off 15.
The home reply started badly with Dan Walker dismissed with the second ball of the innings but Freddie Salisbury (29) and Sam Nicholls (35) rebuilt the innings with a 61 run partnership. It was then over to overseas Navindu Vithanage , the Sri Lankan took charge of proceedings with a season's best 92 and with Saleh Ahmed dropping anchor for 29 the hosts cruised home to victory with 5 wickets in hand and 8 overs spare. Ludlow Captain Luke Miles did his best with 4-60, but with 6 games to go the South Shropshire outfit need at least 2 more wins to feel more comfortable. Chairman Phil Parker can at least take solace from some shrewd Deadline Day business as he brings back Jack Edwards after a long career at Shifnal in the Birmingham League, and he could be crucial in their run in.
Shelton skipper Jack Morris “It’s a massive win, we weren’t at our best with the ball but took wickets at crucial times and restricted them to what we thought was an under par score. It was another good 15 over spell from Simon and Ross bowled well for his 4 wickets. The chase didn’t get off to the best of starts but Sam and Fred scored quickly and then a top class knock from Nav helped us pick up a massive 24 points”
Shrewsbury suffer as Whitchurch shuffle the pack
Whitchurch bounced back from the major disappointment of losing their Finals Day clash with rivals Wem, as they emerged comfortable winners over Shrewsbury 2nds. Captain Mike Robinson made two big calls pre match, dropping Azaad Rafiq and perhaps more eye raising, fast bowler Alex Heath, but the recalled Ollie Dyson and Hugo Lowther making his first start of the season both impressed in an excellent team display. Batting first, Robinson led off with an even 40, while Kunal Dabas dropped anchor for 41, as he shepherded the side to a total of 197-8, with Dyson ending on 25no. Shrewsbury’s bowlers for the most part excelled with Ryan Fernando once again outstanding in taking 3-39 from 15 overs, and Isaac Simmons and George Jenkins each grabbed a brace. Elliot Bowen steamed in with the new ball for the hosts and reduced the visitors to 7-2, before Richard Williams played an aggressive 35 to give them hope. A hope that was quickly extinguished by Kash Hussain, the seamer is approaching his 40th birthday and continues to bowl with great heart and skill in taking 3-43, before Shabbir Khan (3-3) and Dyson (2-9) wrapped up proceedings as Shrewsbury were shot out for 87
Whitchurch chairman Iain Marsh “It's been a bit of a turbulent 7 days, but we end it on a high with a good team performance, bookended by Robbo and Kunal holding the innings together and then youngsters Dyson and Lowther doing a great job with bat, ball and gloves, and I though Elliot bowled a great aggressive new ball spell too”
So we reach the business end of the season, 6 games to go, 3 more of WDL and a final 3 of WL, with everything still to be decided at both ends of the table. Next week sees Allscott head down the road to Wellngton for the first of two August visits, while could Whitchurch upset the formbook at St Georges?
