Ludlow stun Worfield to stall their title charge

Ludlow & South Shropshire's South African seamer took full advantage of a firm and bouncy wicket at Davenport Park.

He took five wickets and scored 36 runs in a match-winning last-wicket partnership that secured a 47-run victory.

Leaders Worfield, who had lost just once all season prior to their meeting with Ludlow, remain on top of the table with five games left to play but their lead in now nine just points.

Ludlow skipper Bryn Simmons said: "He'll (Kennedy) take that all day long. He doesn't bat, he's not a batter but he dominated on Saturday.

"It was quite a bouncy firm pitch which he is used to at home and I knew after we batted on it that the track would suit his bowling.

"We fielded and bowled really well but the batting let us down again. But we had a really good last wicket partnership of 50 plus that changed the game.

"Worfield are a good side but that last stand really did change the game. We went in on a high after that and they must have been really frustrated by it."

Fourth-placed Ludlow started slowly after winning the toss and electing to bat as openers Richard Taylor (5) and Sam Edwards (1) were dismissed with just 10 on the board.

Wickets continued to tumble for the visitors until Kennedy and James Gerritse (10) frustrated the Worfield attack by putting on 51 for the last wicket as they were bowled out for 157 in 49 overs.

But Kennedy ripped though the Worfield batting line-up with Oliver Plank (66) and George Nock (11) the only batsmen to reach double figures for the home side as they were dismissed for 110 in reply.

Meanwhile, Reman Servies batsman Craig Heath stole the show with a quick fire 81 as the second-placed side secured an eight-run victory against Wem to close the gap on Worfield.

Opener Malcolm Serplet (57) and Philip Caudle (41) also made useful contributions with the bat as Reman posted a competitive first innings total of 253-9 after 50 overs.

Wem were solid in reply as opener Will Savage top-scored with 44 but Reman's Jamie Wear bowled brilliantly to take a five-wicket haul and prevent the hosts from chasing down their total.

Meanwhile, Allscott opener Carl Starling hit seven sixes in an inspired knock of 86 but it was not enough to see off mid-table side Cound.

The bottom-placed side were bowled out for 137 in just 27 overs leaving Cound to successfully chase down their target in 36 overs and for the loss of just two wickets.

Elsewhere in the division, Nick Benwell (66) top-scored for Wroxeter Grove as they strolled to a 29-run win away at relegation contenders Newtown.

And bowler Tylor Trenoweth spearheaded the St Georges attack with bowling figures of 6-37 as they secured a convincing 82-run win against struggling Albrighton.

By Tom Mackintosh