Century brothers shine for Shrewsbury

The pair both fired impressive centuries as Shrewsbury claimed a winning draw against bottom club Himley to go sixth in the Birmingham League standings.

Opener Rob hit 112 from as many balls while Ed went a run better, as he contributed 113 to a final total of 352-6.

"The batting was absolutely superb," said Sheperd. "I know Himley are bottom of the table but they have some fine players.

"It was a really good effort from both of them."

The only disappointment for Shrewsbury was their failure to convert the imposing total into a victory, as Himley on 171-7.

But Sheperd remained philosophical and preferred to look on the positives as they moved to within eight points of the top four.

After struggling in the bottom half for much of the season, the manager believed anything is now possible.

"We just need a bit of luck to fall our way but you never know what could happen," he said.

"We will just keep plugging away and try to finish as high as we can.

"It is terrific to be in this position considering some of the problems we have had this season."

While Shrewsbury are on the up in the Premier Division, Whitchurch's Division Two campaign could still go either way after they recorded a losing draw at home to Tamworth.

With six games to go, the Heath Road are 33 points behind the top two and 40 clear of the drop zone.

Opening bowler Zafran Ali claimed four wickets, as Whitchurch restricted Tamworth to 206-9 batting first.

But, in reply, the hosts found themselves in plenty of trouble at 63-5 before Simon Dimelow's 42 gave them some stability.

Ali scored a vital 36 but, when he was the ninth man out, final pair Kevin Jones and Scott Jones still needed to see out the last two overs.

In Division One, Wellington moved to within five points of the top two, while sending Shifnal deeper into relegation trouble after a thumping 126-run win.

Opener Neil Edwards was the unquestionable star of the show, blasting an unbeaten 127 from 80 balls.

The Orleton Park outfit amassed 258-9 from 55 overs, a total which always looked like being beyond their lowly visitors.

Edwards' devastating innings included 15 fours and seven sixes as he got his team off to a flying start.

His exit, with the score 158-2, brought a mini collapse as Wellington fell to 160-5, but skipper Wendell Wagner's sensible and unbeaten 52 helped them post a strong total.

Shifnal's reply always looked like failing, from the moment skipper Tom Collins was out for six, having taken 27 balls to reach that score.

It came in the face of Wellington's opening paceman Trevor Garwe, who would finish with figures of 6-30.

From 87-7, Jack Edwards struck a defiant 39 but he was the final man out as they were eventually dismissed for 132.

Wellington are now just five points behind second-placed Wolverhampton as the season enters the final six games, which will be played using a 50-over, win-lose format.

The defeat leaves Shifnal cast adrift with Wombourne in the drop zone, now 26 points behind Oswestry after their Shropshire rivals claimed a winning draw at home to Old Hill.

Shropshire batsman Joe Carrasco top-scored with 57, in a solid all-round batting effort from the hosts. Darren Papier scored 37 and Matthew Gregson 34 in a final total of 227.

That proved enough to earn the winning draw as Warrick Fynn claimed four wickets to halt Old Hill, after openers Danny Cox (30) and Dmitri Ratnayake (69) had given the visitors a fine start to the chase.

Fynn removed both, with Mark Robinson dismissing the dangerous Nitesh Patel (73) as he looked set to win the game.

Old Hill finished on 206-7 from 55 overs, with Oswestry claiming 16 points to leave them breathing a bit easier as the final weeks approach.

Bridgnorth gave their hopes of promotion from Division Three a huge boost with a crushing eight-wicket win over Streetly.

Victory moved them to within 14 points of second-placed Stratford and seven of their visitors, who left Cricket Meadow bruised after a battering from the hosts.

Shropshire skipper James Ralph took the plaudits as he claimed five wickets but the damage was done from the start for the visitors, when Jamie Brown removed opener Matt Hinton without scoring,

His fellow opener Neil Curtis (31) was one of just two Streetly batsmen to reach double figures, as the Bridgnorth attack fired them out for just 114.

Ralph finished with 5-30 and then took charge with the bat, hitting an unbeaten 64 as Bridgnorth cruised to the total in just 23 overs.

While Bridgnorth eye promotion, the only thing on Quatt's horizon is the spectre of relegation.

A seven-wicket defeat at Kings Heath left them more than a win away from the safety mark.

After making a steady start, in which Adrian Evans scored 47, Quatt's middle and lower order collapsed as they were bowled out for just 155.

Kings Heath bowler Adam Warden finished with 5-34, while team-mate Andrew Davis claimed 4-50.

Quatt then simply couldn't make the same impact with the ball as Kings Heath cruised home in 31 overs.

It was thanks to a patient and unbeaten 47 from opener Andrew Umeed, which was complemented by strong hitting from Gavin Shephard (35 from 22 balls) and Andrew Davis (34 from 44).

Skipper Alex Biddle will be thankful his side's position is less disastrous than that of rivals Newport, who are even deeper in the mire after losing a crucial game at home to Milford Hall by 59 runs.

After the visitors had racked up 215-9 from their 55 overs, Newport were skittled for 156 and are 38 points from safety.

By Matthew Maher