In-form Whitchurch making their mark

Having tasted relegation last season, Alex Huxley’s side sit second in the early standings after picking up two wins and a winning draw.

Their latest victory came at Madeley on Saturday where they powered to a 137-run success.

Ed Watson-Jones (69), skipper Huxley (40) and Ejaz Yousaf (35) were the main contributors as Whitchurch posted 254-8.

Former Shropshire seamer Dan Bowen and off-spinner Vansh Bajaj then bagged four wickets each to help skittle the hosts for 117, with Bajaj conceding just 11 runs in 14.5 overs.

“It was a good all-round display,” said Huxley.

“We continued our run of posting good scores and created a bit of scoreboard pressure and then bowled well.

“I am pleased with the start. After playing in the Birmingham League for a good few years the majority of the players, myself included, don’t really know a lot about this league.

“We are still finding out about the other teams and what they are about.

“But we have hit the ground running and that’s what we wanted to do.”

Broseley top the early standings, four points ahead of Whitchurch, after reeling off their third straight success courtesy of a 105-run win against Albrighton.

Nadeem Ahmad (40) and James Ralph (35) helped Broseley post 194-8 with Adam Shimmons picking up 3-47.

Gavin Daniel then took centre stage for Broseley with the ball, bagging 5-34 as Albrighton were dismissed for 89.

John Anthony was the star of the show as he fired Newtown to victory over fellow Premier newcomers Market Drayton.

Anthony produced a devastating spell with the ball to record excellent figures of 6-19 from 13.2 overs to help roll Drayton over for 108 to seal a 58-run success.

Harvey Wakefield and Callum Claydon were the only batters to offer any resistance with 35 and 33 respectively.

Newtown had earlier grafted their way to 166-5 from their 50 overs with Sam Cooke ending unbeaten on 35 and opener Thomas Goodman making 30.