Shropshire Cricket League Premier Division

Whitchurch slumped to defeat at home to Shropshire Premier Division title hopefuls Worfield on Saturday as they were shot out for just above 100 at Heath Road.

The home side were put into bat first in perfect bowling conditions as heavy clouds swirled above in humid weather.

Whitchurch made a solid start, reaching 18-1 after Salim Ahmed was caught by Ian Walker off the bowling of Michael Delacovo for nine but fellow opener Matthew Batkin wasted no time getting going.

He shared a 31-run partnership for the second wicket with Nadeem Ahmad before the latter was dismissed for just three, with the score on 49 but Batkin continued to score, adding a further 26 with Elliott Bowen before he was out for 32 with Whitchurch on 75-3.

However, his dismissal sparked a collapse that would haunt Whitchurch for the rest of the game as Vansh Bajaj followed a ball later, caught behind by Walker, and Elliot Bowen added four more, and eight for the team, before Whitchurch were 83-5.

The Heath Road side lost five wickets for 21 runs as none of the lower order were able to reach double figures, with Whitchurch dismissed for 106 in the 35th over.

Jake Rowlands was the pick of the bowling for the visitors as he finished with 3-35, but Ryan Quiney, Dale Quiney and Matthew Rees all finished with two apiece.

In reply, Whitchurch failed to maintain the perfect start when Worfield reached 59-2, despite Ryan Quiney being caught by Ijaz Yousaf off skipper Dan Bowen’s bowling for just one run.

Delacovo smashed a quickfire 39 from just 15 balls to effectively put the game beyond Whitchurch’s reach, but the Heath Road side refused to yield as they took four quick wickets to leave Worfield 89-5.

Ahmad (3-29) joined his skipper (2-45) to give Worfield a scare but Tom Pickerill and Nick Hudson saw the visitors over the line with 24 not out and 10 not out, respectively.

The second XI were also well beaten on Saturday, in a reduced overs game because of the weather at Condover first XI.

Both openers went without troubling the scorers but Freddie Timmis gave them hope with 32 while Molly Batkin finished 25 not out, as Whitchurch were dismissed for 113.

Home openers Mike Rogers and Mark Griffiths (55) took advantage of the conditions and numbers to score easily.

Rogers was out for two runs short of his 50, with Jack Ramsay trapping him lbw as Condover reached 114-1.

The firsts face Newport this weekend while the second XI host Market Drayton.