ELLESMERE produced a convincing win over Bishops Castle to maintain their strong position in Shropshire League Division Two.
Skipper Adam Huxley won the toss and put the visitors in to bat.  An excellent all round bowling and fielding performance from the home side kept Bishops Castle pegged back and the only really notable scores came from opener Edgar Whatley with 23 and Richard Plant, batting at number four, who scored 25 before being very well caught at mid-wicket by Alex Duncan off the bowling of Graham Beardmore. Duncan also bowled very well getting two for 15 from his seven overs.
Adam Huxley cleared out the Bishops Castle middle order, ending up with three wickets, and Tom Davies polished off the tail, bowling two maidens and taking two wickets. Joe McKay hit at spirited 18 near the end to bring the visitors to the 100 mark.
Ellesmere were never in danger of failing to reach their target. Lee Thomas hit a gritty 20 and there were 12 runs each for James Evans, Tom Davies and Alex Duncan. The star with the bat was young Fraser Duncan, batting at number five, who showed maturity and patience in his innings.
Having already scored three good fours he faced some high-flighted, looping bowling from Rich Fifield. Rather than being tempted into any big swings of the bat he simply stroked the ball away to the boundary with three cultured shots to win the match for Ellesmere.
Bishops Castle (3pts) 100 all out. R Plant 25 E Whatley 23 J McKay 18 no A Huxley 3- 42 A Duncan 2-15 T Davies 2-0 G Beardmore two for 39.
Ellesmere (21pts) 103 for five. F Duncan 24 no L Thomas 20 J Perry two for 13.
 On Saturday, Ellesmere 1sts are at home to Church Stretton while the seconds are away to Whitchurch 4ths.