Lewis Evans shines as Shrewsbury lose
Shrewsbury are now tied at the top of the Birmingham League Premier Division after falling to their first defeat of the season.
A five-wicket haul from Lewis Evans was not enough to prevent the London Road outfit, who had won their first three fixtures, suffering a hefty 71-run loss at Dorridge.
Put into field, Shrewsbury made early inroads into the hosts’ batting order thanks to Lewis and Ed Foster (2-21).
But having reduced Dorridge to 71-4 at one point, they found resistance in the shape of Joe Dodd, who hit 72 off 80 balls to restore momentum to the innings.
Dodd’s seventh-wicket stand of 69 with Mark Swanick (33) proved to be the biggest of the match and ensured the home side finished on 225-9 from their 50 overs, Evans finishing with figures of 5-39.
Despite the early loss of Rob Foster (10) thanks to some incisive bowling from Warwickshire seamer Chris Wright, Shrewsbury were making steady progress under Ed Foster (47) and skipper Will Parton (43).
But when the latter was dismissed with the score on 81, caught by Dodd off the bowling of David Ball, it prompted a collapse.
Tyler Ibbotsen was the only other batsman to reach double figure as Shrewsbury were dismissed for 154.
In Division Three, Newport’s troubles with bat continued to leave them on the end of a hammering at Stourbridge.
Chasing 264 for victory, the Audley Avenue outfit were bowled out for just 102 to lose by 161 runs. It means they have mustered only 290 runs in total over the last three matches.
Whitchurch are only two places and three points better off, after falling to a four-wicket defeat at home to Milford Hall.
