Shrewsbury not resting on their laurels

The London Road outfit sit four points clear at the top of the Birmingham & District League Premier Division.

Rob Foster's side brushed aside Ombersley on Saturday to record an emphatic 155-run victory.

But Ed Foster believes the table-toppers can still go up another notch with their performance.

He said: "We still haven't quite hit our best. I still think we are searching for a bit more consistency.

"If we can find that in the remaining games then it should be an interesting end to the season."

Shrewsbury's bowlers did the damage against Ombersley, as the visitors were skittled out for 75 chasing 231 to win.

Steve Barnard and Sam Griffiths were in terrific form to share eight wickets between them and finish with figures of 4-32 and 4-28 respectively.

Foster added: "Our bowlers have been great all season and played a vital part in putting us where we are in the league.

"Steve started it off at the front end with four wickets and then Sam came on and followed him up with the same towards the end.

"Having the bowlers we have gives us confidence that, if we are batting first, whatever total we put up will be competitive.

"We had a bit of a collapse in the middle order, although everyone seemed to get a few runs. Nobody got more than 50, although there was no real reason as to why that happened.

"We weren't ever confident of getting 280 or 290, but we knew 230 was going to be a tough ask for them with the bowlers we have got."

The hosts had seemed on course for a big score when Ed Foster and Steve Leach put on 82 for the opening wicket.

Leach top scored with 44 but with wickets falling at regular intervals, it needed a late cameo with the bat by Steve Barnard (37) before Shrewsbury were dismissed for 230, with two balls of their innings left.

But the visitors were soon in trouble at 8-3, Mike Barnard also getting among the wickets. Chris Harwood offered some resistance with 41 off 56 balls but was merely delaying the inevitable.

Griffiths finished the innings with the first ball of the 29th over – Ombersley skittled out for 75.

Meanwhile, chairman Jonathan Martin believes Bridgnorth showed their battling qualities in the narrow win at Stourbridge.

The Division Two table-toppers are sitting pretty after edging to a two-wicket success at Amblecote.

And Martin believes it was the kind of performance and result which could prove crucial at the end of the season.

He said: "It was one of those good battling performances that showed we have a lot of character in the side.

"We were delighted to bowl them out for what seemed a low score but, in the end, we needed everyone to chip in and get us over the line.

"We have a nice cushion now over third place but we must keep going, every team has players capable of producing match-winning performances."

Skipper James Ralph was again in fine form and returned figures of 5-17, as Bridgnorth bowled the home side out for 136.

Ralph then led the run chase with 45, but wickets fell at regular intervals and it needed a late 22 from Gareth Mumford to help the visitors home.

"It was quite a difficult wicket and most of the batsmen got in and then got out," added Martin. "Ralphy had another fine game.

"The experience of Gareth was crucial towards the end was crucial and it was nice for a young lad in teenager Dougie Roberts to hit the winning runs."

Shifnal put further distance between themselves and the relegation zone with a two-wicket win over Wombourne.

A stand of 58 for the fifth wicket between Tom Elwell and Ben Hudson helped Wombourne reach 140-9 from their 55 overs.

Muhamed Ayub was the pick of the home bowlers with 4-21 off seven overs.

An opening partnership of 73 between Tom Collins and Charlie Home looked to have Shifnal cruising towards their target.

But the hosts lost seven wickets for just 38 runs and it needed an unbeaten 30 from Jack Edwards to see them home.

A poor batting display dented Whitchurch's hopes of moving further away from the Division Three relegation scrap.

The Heath Road side slipped to a four-wicket defeat against a Stratford-upon-Avon side, who cemented second place in the table with the win.

Skipper Maisam Jaffri did his best to inspire his side with an unbeaten 77, as the opener carried his bat.

But there was little support elsewhere as just one other batsman – Yaqoob Yousuf – made it into double figures (20).

James Urquhart claimed 4-50 as the home side were bowled out for 132 in the 47th over.

Whitchurch's bowlers attempted to get their side back into the contest and had Stratford in trouble at 43-4.

But valuable knocks from Rob West (29) and Ben Pigott (39 not out) saw the visitors home. Vansh Bajaj (3-38) was the top Whitchurch bowler.

Worfield remain in trouble after losing a crunch relegation clash at Pelsall.

Opener Will Cook top scored with 57 but Todd Henderson caused all sorts of damage for the home side.

Not only did he finish with figures of 4-34, but Henderson also claimed the wicket of Worfield skipper Nick Hudosn with a run out.

Gagandeep Singh chipped in with a useful unbeaten 31 towards the end of the innings as Worfield were eventually dismissed for 144, after 53 overs.

Singh continued his fruitful afternoon by claiming the wickets of the top four Pelsall batsmen.

But an unbeaten 58 helped the hosts get back on top, supported by 21 from Paul Grainger.

Singh finished with excellent figures of 5-38 off 16 overs, but Pelsall reached their target with four wickets and 15 overs to spare.