New-look Shrewsbury desperate to play

Three of their opening seven games have been washed out this season, more than any other team in the Birmingham & District League Premier Division.

That's left them in the bottom half of the table on 70 points, but Rob Foster's men are itching for an opportunity to prove themselves.

Chairman Richard Chapman said: "It's too stop and start, making it difficult for the team to knit together. A lot of games have been abandoned halfway through so we can't get going.

"It's very disappointing. You try and get teams together all week and then this happens. We've got new players in the team, hopefully we can a few games in the row to improve matters."

Ben Stebbings, Tyler Ibbotson, Bradley Thornton, Oli Westbury, and overseas player Adam King are all new additions.

And there's another reason why Shrewsbury are desperate for time in the middle, particularly at London Road.

Wicket-keeper opener Ed Foster said: "We've had the square relaid this year and we're still learning how to play on that.

"It should be something to give us an advantage but we need to play on it."

Foster made 55 before Saturday's match against Walsall was abandoned when Shrewsbury were 131-7.

He said: "The score wouldn't look amazing, but it was probably in the balance. It was quite tough going and we lost a wicket just before the game was called off.

"It's just a nuisance. Ideally we'd be playing back to back week in, week out, so people get used to playing in the same team."

In Division One, Wellington were beaten by six wickets by new league leaders Smethwick who had just three balls to spare in their 20-over run chase.

Anthony O'Connor top scored for Wellington with 33 as they made 111-7 in the reduced overs match, Sukhjit Singh taking 5-20 from his six overs.

But Smethwick's Amtitoze Singh smashed an unbeaten 78 from 57 balls as they leapfrogged Wellington, who are now fourth, into top spot.

Bridgnorth picked up eight points from a losing draw with Bromsgrove, who declared after 51 overs on 247-8. Charlie Morris took 4-44 from his 14 overs.

Sam Whitney's team survived their 34 overs on 182-8, Simon Gregory hitting 73 off 67 balls.

Shifnal leapfrogged Halesowen into fourth after restricting them to just 87 runs in a rain reduced 33-over match in Division Two.

Jack McIver took 4-23 from his 10 overs of off-spin, but Shifnal captain Tom Collins was particularly pleased with Ryan Klein's 3-10 from his eight overs of seam.

Klein then made an unbeaten 38 to ease Shifnal over the line in the 22nd over with just three wickets lost.

Collins said: "We won what turned out to be a good toss. Obviously, it was good conditions to bowl in, but we made the most of it.

"It was the first time this season our seamers have bowled well together first up and the spin bowlers carried on as they have done all year.

"It was a very good all-round performance from the four bowlers and they were well backed up in the field, which was nice because our fielding hadn't been up to standard so far."

Collins is hoping to be around the top four come the end of the season, adding: "We've been a bit unlucky with the weather so far.

"But if we keep getting positive results every week hopefully we're not going to be far off. We haven't done a lot wrong so far."

Oswestry were bowled out for 109 as they lost a tight game against Old Elizabethans by 14 runs.

Reduced to 47-7, Mark Robinson's unbeaten 45 gave them a chance but Jonathan Miles' team couldn't get the last few runs.

In Division Three, Worfield chased down 89 to beat Brewood by three wickets and leapfrog their opponents.

Dale Quiney (6-37) and Patrick Butler (4-22) bowled out their opponents before Mitchell Hoof (23 not out) and James Parker (12no) got Worfield over the line.

Second-bottom Newport picked up eight points from a losing draw at Aston Manor, finishing on 146-7 from their 33 overs after their hosts made 243-9 from 55.

Rock-bottom Whitchurch were forced to play with just 10 men, because Rob Leighton couldn't get the day off work, and were subsequently bowled out for 94.

Astwood Bank had made 214-6 earlier, leaving Whitchurch 14 points adrift of Newport.