Shrewsbury go on revenge mission

The county towners were bowled out for just 54 when they lost by six wickets at home to Barnt Green in April.

Shrewsbury had impressively not tasted defeat in the Birmingham League’s Premier Division again until last weekend’s seven-wicket reverse at a Knowle & Dorridge side inspired by an unbeaten century from New Zealand international George Worker.

Shrewsbury’s in-form batsman Ed Foster, who has hit more than 500 league runs this season, said: “That first match of the season against Barnt Green, we probably look back with some regret really because we just didn’t turn up.

“We’ve got an opportunity to right that wrong this weekend when we visit them.

“We had a couple of bizarre opening weeks, but we put that right fairly quickly as we showed with the run that we went on.

“Barnt Green are a good side. They’ve got some very good players, three lads at Warwickshire and one from Somerset, so actually man-for-man, on paper, they’re a very good side.”

Leg spinner Josh Poysden, one of Barnt Green’s Warwickshire contingent, inflicted much of the damage by taking 5-7 when the sides last met at London Road.

His Edgbaston team-mates Matthew Lamb and Ed Pollock have also played regularly in the Birmingham League this season while young opener Tom Banton is with Somerset.

Shrewsbury are third in the top-flight table, 13 points behind new leaders Berkswell and level on points with second-placed Knowle & Dorridge, as the second half of the season gets under way this weekend.

Foster added: “There’s obviously plenty for us to play for, a chance to win the league.”

Shrewsbury expect to be able to name an unchanged team, which will include Ollie Westbury, the promising opening batsman who struck 95, his highest score for the club this season, last weekend.