Oliver Plank joins the ton-up club as Quatt march on

Plank stroked his way to his first senior team century to see his side to a comfortable seven-wicket success at Cound.

He ended unbeaten on 113 as Quatt chased down their hosts’ total of 195 to make it seven wins on the spin.

Quatt had suffered a poor start to their run chase when Adam Williams claimed a quick one, two, three that reduced them to 8-3.

But that was as good as it got for the hosts with Plank joining opener Ryan Wheldon for an unbroken match-winning stand.

Plank compiled his runs from 100 balls while Wheldon walked off with 71 to his name.

Skipper Craig Jones was delighted to chalk up another victory but admitted there were one or two concerns along the way.

“It perhaps wasn’t as comfortable as it looked on paper especially when we were 8-3 from eight overs,” said Jones.

“But Ryan and Ollie batted really well and once they had seen off the new ball they scored quite quickly.

“There was a big momentum swing in Cound’s innings having had them 80-odd for eight but we talked about that at tea and said it wasn’t a big score because the ground is quite small and the outfield was lightning fast.

“It was an important win because Wem don’t look like slipping up at the minute so we need to carry on picking up wins.”

The fact that Quatt had to chase the best part of 200 for victory was down to a fine knock from Cound’s number eight Williams.

The home side saw their top order blown away by a superb spell from Jonathan Edwards. The seamer took four of the first five wickets to fall as he recorded excellent figures of 4-17 from 10 overs. That left Cound reeling on 37-5 and they were 50-6 when Williams walked to the crease.

He then launched a counter-attack that saw him hit seven fours and six sixes on his way to 78, as Cound ended on 195.

“Jonathan bowled really well and I decided to bowl him right through,” said Jones.

“I was beginning to wish I had kept him back for a couple of overs when their lad got going. We had only got slow bowlers left and he kept whacking us. He batted well.”

Wem kept up the pressure on the leaders following another masterclass from Rishav Das during their 130-run success at home to Bomere Heath.

The Indian run-machine continued his brilliant form by clocking up his fifth top-flight century of the summer to take his league run tally to 699 from nine innings.

Das made 154 from the top of the order, sharing a first-wicket stand of 171 with Harry Chandler (66), as Wem piled up 331-4. Steve Belnkinsopp added an unbeaten 32.

In reply, Bomere lost two early wickets with just 11 on the board and were never in with a shout of overhauling their hosts’ total. Harry Bolland made 57 not out and Rob Dean 35 as they were restricted to 201-8. Josh Gough was the pick of the Wem attack with 3-41 from his 10 overs.

The victory left Wem nine points behind Quatt with a crunch clash at home to third-placed Madeley to come on Saturday.