Shrewsbury bounce back to winning ways

The London Roaders secured a five-wicket success to end a run of two consecutive defeats.

After winning the toss and electing to bowl, Mike Barnard (4-24) shone with the ball to restrict the home side to 127 all out.

Ed Foster then top scored with 62 to lead Shrewsbury home.

Jamie Miller and Neil Edwards led the victory charge as Wellington chalked up their second success of the summer in Division One.

The duo both struck half-century knocks to help their side ease to a six-wicket victory at Harborne.

Consistent bowling from Adam Byram (2-43), Dan Lloyd (2-46), Wendell Wagner (2-49) and Zimbabwean Trevor Garwe (1-21) helped them dismiss their hosts for 224, despite Shehan Fernando cracking 103 from 80 balls.

But lead by Miller (73) and Edwards (64) Wellington raced home with more than 11 overs to spare, with Wagner adding 24 not out.

Wellington spokesman Adam Byram said: "We played very well and it's was nice to be able to put in a more complete performance.

"We actually had Fernando caught behind when he was on nine but it wasn't it given, so it could have been even more convincing.

"We haven't had the best of starts to the season and have seemed to have the odd bad hour here and there in the games we have played so far.

"But now I feel we are are really getting into it. Both Miller and Edwards batted really well on Saturday.

"Jamie has looked very good since he joined in the summer. He's a good lad and has settled in really well, it was great to see him get the runs he deserves."

With the first five games of the season now over, the league shifts format from straight win or lose cricket to the 55-over arrangement for the next 11 fixtures.

Byram said: "We are looking forward to the challenge that type of cricket brings.

"We are a team that is happy in either format, we feel we are in a decent spot after the opening fives games and now we're ready to kick on."

While Wellington toasted victory, Oswestry remain in the bottom two after a brilliant unbeaten 111 from Shakeel Janjua inspired Smethwick to victory over the border side.

Oswestry posted 251, after hugely impressive knocks from Joe Clarke (94) and Michael Johnson (51).

England under-19 ace Clarke continued his impressive start to the season with 94, while Australian import Johnson struck 51.

Smethwick looked to be heading for a defeat as they fell to 61-4 with all-rounder Warrick Fynn knocking over Smethwick's top three on his way to figures of 4-51.

But Janjua's century together with impressive knocks from Vikram Sodhi (44) and Sukhjit Singh (27) lead Smethwick to a three-wicket victory.

The defeat leaves Oswestry in the drop zone with one from five games.

In Division Two, Bridgnorth skipper James Ralph has warned his team against complacency.

That's despite seeing his side top the table following a fifth straight win after overcoming Eastnor. Jack Myers (82) and Andrew Fisher (50) took the Herefordshire side to 249 all out.

But the home side eased to a six-wicket win with impressive contributions from Ryan Lockley (92no), Simon Gregory (75) and Ralph (41).

Ralph said: "We batted well, but I don't think we bowled with any real purpose.

"We let them have 50 runs too many but the good thing from our point of view was that every batsman got a score.

"We are top of the table but we haven't played any of the sides who I expect to make up the top four.

"If we are going to compete against those we need to improve our fielding and bowling. If we don't get it right against one of the top sides we could come in for a bit of a hiding."

With the first five games of the season now over, the league shifts format from straight win or lose cricket for the next 11 fixtures.

Ralph added: "The format changes but, for us, we just have to make sure we go into every game with the same intensity. We are treating every game like it's a cup final."

There was also good news for Shifnal who secured an eight-wicket win over Stourbridge largely thanks to a brilliant unbeaten 128 form Mohammed Ayub.

After dismissing the home side foer 203, skipper Tom Collins smashed 61, before Ayub's impressive haul from just 105 balls.

In Division Three, 15-year-old George Hargrave hit 49 on his debut for Worfield as they reached 209 all out against C & R Hawks.

But it was Hawks who raced to victory in 33.3 overs, thanks in the main to an unbeaten 122 from Omar Ali.

Whitchurch's dismal start to the season continued against Fordhouses.

They were bowled out for 163, Maisam Hasnain Jaffri top scoring with 47, and Fordhouses registered a three-wicket success.