Wellington boost survival hopes

The hosts went into the final over needing two for victory but with just one wicket remaining.

And after two dot balls, Wendell Wagner bowled Luke Swann to clinch the win for the visitors.

It was a disappointing collapse for Shifnal, who had started the day in the promotion places and looked well on course at 173-1 chasing 244.

The dismissal of opener Jack Edwards for a blistering 96 off 99 balls, one of three victims for former Worcestershire bowler Imran Arif, proved a turning point.

Chad Brandrick made 46 but wickets then began to tumble more regularly as Wellington showed tremendous spirit. Even when Mitchell Stanley was trapped leg before to leave Shifnal on 237-8, they still only needed seven runs off 30 balls.

Wagner struck in the next over when he had Alex Riley caught behind by Charlie Mackleworth to set the nerves jangling.

The next over by Dan Lloyd went for two but Wagner then returned to complete the job and finish with 4-35.

Lloyd had been the star of the show earlier in the day with an unbeaten century as Wellington posted 243-3 from their 55 overs.

Both openers had gone with only 27 on the board, but Lloyd batted superbly for his 106 not out off 156 balls that included 14 fours.

Matty Simmonds added 46 and Arif an unbeaten 50 as Wellington, who have struggled with the bat this season, reached a score that proved just enough.

Oswestry have emerged as real promotion contenders, surging into second place following an emphatic seven-wicket victory over Himley, after chasing down the visitors’ total of 189 with some 26 overs still to spare.

Without injured captain Robbie Clarke and brother Joe – on Worcestershire duty – the Bordermen have now won four of their last five games, in addition to a convincing winning draw against Leamington.

Oswestry have hit form just at the right moment with four of their leading players, Warwick Fynn, Joe Carassco, Rituraj Singh and Roman Walker, once again stepping up to the mark.

Fynn finished with figures of 4-40 before scoring 39 in an opening stand of on 66 with county man Carrasco, who contunued his impressive form of late with a well-organised 42. Singh, meanwhile, a constant, threat returned 2-26 in the Himley innings.

But it was 17-year-old Walker who stole the headlines. Bowling with real pace, the highly promising Glamorgan all-rounder collected 2-32 before hammering a magnificent, undefeated 85 off just 59 balls, including 11 fours and five sixes, to guide the home side to victory.

Stand-in skipper, Dean Suter was delighted with the team’s display, He said: “It was a complete team performance. We were looking at a long afternoon in the field when they were 103 for no wicket, but we came back really well. We must keep it going”.

Bridgnorth were on the receiving end of a devastating spell from Kidderminster bowler Liam Weston.

Apart from a belligerent unbeaten 61, from 48 balls, by Adam Quiney, Bridgnorth had little answer to the attack spearheaded by Weston, He took the first six wickets for 33, to reduce Bridgnorth to 48-6.

Quiney’s effort added a bit of respectability and earned Bridgnorth a batting point but 52 from Richard Kimberlin saw the table-toppers cruise to another 24 points.

Bridgnorth skipper Sam Whitney admitted his side fell short with the bat. “We were poor. With a few more runs we may have had a chance,” he said. “Our late order batsman have to get us out of trouble too often.”