Oswestry first XI left Saturday’s fixture with Barnards Green disappointed after throwing away a clear winning opportunity to lose by one wicket.

At 114-7 the Malvern side were teetering on the brink of defeat, needing another 115 for victory, but an eighth-wicket partnership of 45 between Mahaaz Ahmed who hit 21 and Harvey Smedley who added 14, gave the home side some semblance of hope.

When Ahmed was joined by second team bowler Ben Bromage, the pair added a pivotal 69 for the ninth wicket to take the West Worcestershire side to within one run of victory.

A remarkable comeback was all but complete, with the Oswestry seam attack haemorrhaging runs in the final 10 overs.

With four balls to spare, Ahmed guided his team home to an unlikely 20 points with a fine, undefeated 78 off 83 balls which included six fours and one six. Bromage added a priceless 31.

Joe Carrasco was again the pick of the Oswestry attack with figures of 4-38 whilst Warrick Fynn’s left arm spin yielded 2-30 in 10 tight overs.

This was the second week running that the Bordermen have seen their opponents enjoy 50-run partnerships for the ninth wicket.

As proved the case on occasions last season, after making important inroads, the Oswestry attack continues to experience difficulties in removing the opposition tail which invariably bats deep at this level and has to be prised out.

The absence of Roman Walker, who was being rested by Glamorgan, did not help the Oswestry cause, but the concession of 36 extras including 22 wides and four no balls tells its own tale.

This was to prove crucial in the final analysis on what was a frustrating day for the Bordermen who for the most part had been dominant.

Earlier, Fynn and Carrasco had given the visitors a very solid platform, putting on 134 for the first wicket before Carrasco was trapped lbw by Ahmed for a patient 62 of 114 balls.

Fynn fell 20 runs later for 61 as Oswestry lost a little momentum in the push for final runs.

Larry Samarakoon added 21 off 27 balls, with skipper Dean Suter managing 23 runs and Ben Roberts scoring 15 added useful runs with Oswestry closing on a competitive 228-6 off their 50 overs.

If Oswestry felt they might have fallen slightly short of their target, it should still have been sufficient against a home side depleted by absences, including the likes of George Rhodes and Ryan Tongue, and who were staring defeat in the face with less than 20 overs to go.

Suter’s men remain third in the table despite Saturday’s defeat.

The team will look to bounce back to winning ways on Saturday when Himley are the visitors to the Stonehouse Oval.

A young Oswestry second XI enjoyed a thrilling win over their experienced counterparts, Newport, in the Shropshire League.

Chasing 232, the visitors were well on course for victory at 151-1 until teenage spinners Floyd Owen and Henry Walker entered the attack which completely changed the complexion of the game.

Owen picked up 5-53 and 13- year-old Walker 3-30 as the visitors were bowled out for 218 in the final over.

The ageless Steve Humphreys top scored for Oswestry with 76 and 16-year-old Archie James who continues to show promise, played his part with a well-made undefeated 40.

Meanwhile, Oswestry thirds beat Wellington fifths by six wickets after chasing down a target of 206.

Luke Jones’ 91 not-out was the highlight as they reached the target with nearly six overs to spare.