Shrewsbury School eye national success

Skipper Dan Humes was the star of the show for Shrewsbury as they overcame Ellesmere College in an exciting showdown.

Humes top scored with a superb 87 to lead his side to a seven-run success.

The clash, a repeat of last year's final, was staged at Ellesmere College and it was the visitors who opted to bat first after winning the toss.

After the loss of two early wickets, Humes and Ludo Litchfield joined forces to share a 113-run stand for the third wicket.

Humes' runs came off just 50 balls while Litchfield made 40 from 30 deliveries.

Ellesmere rallied towards the end of the innings and a late flurry of wickets helped restrict Shrewsbury to 154-9 from their 20 overs.

Harry Newton (3-16), Freddie Furnival (2-22) and Connor Davies (2-34) were the pick of the Ellesmere bowlers.

In reply, the hosts made a steady start thanks to a partnership of 41 for the second wicket between Ben Beaver (13) and Connor Davies (69 off 61 balls).

Davies was then joined by Freddie Furnival (37 not out) to edge Ellesmere close to victory before the dismissal of Davies put Shrewsbury back into the ascendancy.

An undefeated 11 off six deliveries from Matt Jones almost took the hosts to an unlikely success, but Shrewsbury just held on as Ellesmere closed on 147-4.

Shrewsbury's two under-14 left-arm spinners, Peter Clark and Arthur Garratt, bowled their combined eight overs for 44 runs and two wickets but the man of the match award deservedly went to Humes.

Shrewsbury will now host the Nottinghamshire champions in the first regional round of the competition.