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Blofield's four helps Salop's revenge

Blofield's four helps Salop's revenge

Shrewsbury Cricket Club26 May 2017 - 14:10
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By Stuart Dunn at the Shrewsbury Chronicle

Henry Blofield’s four-wicket haul helped Shrewsbury, now up to fourth place in the Birmingham League’s premier division, impressively avenge last month’s Graham Williamson Trophy defeat at West Bromwich Dartmouth.

The London Roaders, who travel to Brockhampton on Saturday, headed back to Sandwell Park just a month after losing at the same venue in the Trophy on a day when they were bowled out for just 67.

But Shrewsbury enjoyed their swift return visit to West Bromwich rather more as they secured a 23 run victory in a rain-affected clash to add 20 more points to their tally.

Experienced batsman Ed Foster, also Shrewsbury’s vice-chairman, said: “There was certainly a determination from the lads to make sure we came away from there with a proper result.

"The match against them earlier in the season followed by the game against Barnt Green wasn’t a particularly great start to the year, however our results since then and where we sit in the table now show that we’ve come back from it in the right way.”

Asked to bat first, Shrewsbury, playing well under new captain Ben Stebbings, posted 164-7 from a reduced allocation of 35 overs.

A week after cracking an unbeaten century against Wolverhampton, Foster once more led the way by making 40 while Tim Ward (29), Will Parton (24) and Dillon Pennington (24) also kept the scoreboard ticking over.

Shrewsbury struck a telling early blow in the home side’s reply when Mike Barnard tapped free-scoring former Worcestershire and Gloucestershire batsman Kadeer Ali, now captain of Minor Counties side Staffordshire, for 18. Pennington then got rid of the other opener, Amit John, for 22 as West Bromwich fell away from a promising 54-1 to 76-5.

Foster completed a strong all-round display by taking 3-20 with the ball and Blofield, making a welcome return to the side after a spell being unavailable, helped himself to 4-17, making sure of victory when he removed last man Sultan Afsal with five balls of the match remaining.

It left the hosts all out for 141, with Brinder Phagura, another Staffordshire regular, stranded on 32 not out.

“It was a very good performance,” added Foster. "It was a gritty performance as it wasn’t necessarily a great day for cricket.

"It was quite wet and miserable, the pitch was a little bit tricky, and we had the added challenge of starting our innings and then having it disrupted.

“With each obstacle, we put our hand up and got stuck in really. We put a score on the board, which was more than competitive, and then the bowling attack that we have backs it up really well and it made it very tough for West Brom to get anywhere near it really.”

As for the contribution of four-wicket Blofield, Foster stressed: “We’ve got a number of spin options so we’re quite fortunate in that regard.

“Henry, with his Minor Counties experience and having had the season he did last year, is always a welcome addition.

"He’s not played a great deal this season so far because he’s in the middle of his exams at university, but he took four wickets and just to add that balance to the seam attack we have is a real bonus for Ben.”

Meanwhile, Shrewsbury are through to the third round of the T20 Challenge Cup, where they will host Fordhouses.

They had been scheduled to face Shifnal in a rearranged second round tie at London Road last Sunday, but Shifnal were unable to fulfil the fixture.

Only half of the original tie was able to be be played last Friday night owing to rain.
Shrewsbury completed their innings and made 132-6 from their 20 overs, with runs from Pennington (42), Foster (21) and Llyr Thomas (21).

Elsewhere, Shrewsbury II are 14 points clear at the top of reserve division two (north) following a 36 run victory at home to Penkridge II.

Bradley Thornton struck an unbeaten 70 and Joshua Anders was 40 not out - the pair sharing an unbroken stand of 111 for the fourth wicket - as Shrewsbury accumulated 210-3 from their 40 overs. Jon Anders (41) and Lewis Evans (25) also weighed in.

Two wickets apiece from Tom Somerville, Harry Bolland and Evans ensured Penkridge got no closer than 174-8.

Shrewsbury’s second teamers will face Newport II at London Road on Saturday.

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