The Green 1st XI hosted Oswestry with a team missing six regular first team players. Oswestry won the toss and chose to bat first. It was a young opening seam attack but both 18 year old Ben Brommage and 15 year old Ollie Halion started accurately. They were able to restrict Shropshire’s Warrick Fynn and Joe Carrasco to 38 off the first 12 overs including just two boundaries. The Green switched to the spin of Mahaz Ahmaed and Taylor Pugh and the run rate increased slightly with Oswestry reaching 102 – 0 at drinks. Both openers reached their half centuries not long after with Fynn bringing his up with fine sweep for 4. The breakthrough came in Ahmaed’s final over when Carrasco was trapped lbw for 62. Oswestry’s Sri Lankan A overseas Lahiru Samarakoon came in next.

Pugh struck next as Fynn holed out to Will Dovey at long on for 62. Dovey took his second catch just 2 overs later when Samarakoon misjudged one from Monzur Ahmed – leaving Oswestry 164-3 in the 41st over with Alex Huxley and Matthew Richards at the crease. Richards was next out for 7 as Dovey took his third catch at mid-on to give Monzur Ahmed his 2nd wicket. Just one over later with his score on 12 Huxley had to retire hurt – bringing Ben Roberts in to join Dean Suter. This pair put on 45 through good running and rotating the strike; before in the last over they were both stumped by James Styles off the bowling off Josh Blunt – Suter for 23 and Roberts for 15, Josh Darley was left 1 not out as Oswestry finished with 228-6 of their 50 overs.

In reply the Green started confidently with openers Will Dovey and Josh Blunt putting on 27 in less than 5 overs before Dovey was bowled for 14 by Ben Roberts. This brought Joe Crichard to the crease and run rate continued at 5 an over as Samarakoon replaced Ian Davies. With the score on 62 Blunt was trapped lbw for 28 by Samarakoon bringing Mahaaz Ahmaed in to join Crichard. A mid-order collapse ensued with Fynn bowling two wicket maidens – firs Crichard (17) was caught and bowled and Ollie Halion (1) was lbw. Joe Carrasco came into the attack and struck in his first over as Taylor Pugh chopped on for 3.

This left the Green 99-5 at drinks - and this soon became 114–7 soon after as Joe Carrasco struck twice more. First James Styles (6) was caught by Chris Cathrall at fine leg then Dannie Rees was bowled for 1. Harvey Smedley joined Ahmaed and they stabilised the innings by some good placement and good running. In the 37th over Ahmaed reached a well-deserved half century with a lovely lofted drive for 4. Unfortunately their partnership of 45 ended soon after when Smedley fell lbw for 14 to give Carrasco his fourth wicket.

Ben Brommage came in at 10 with the score 159-8 in the 39th over – with a required rate of just under 7 an over. Without taking undue risks the two batsmen accumulated the runs with good running and the occasional well-placed boundary. Samarakoon returned to the attack but went for 10 and 14 in his final two overs meaning the Green only needed 20 off four overs. A returning Roberts went for 13 in the 49th over thanks to two boundaries from Brommage meaning the scores were tied. Unfortunately Brommage couldn’t see it though as he holed out to Josh Darley off Cathrall. This left Monzur Ahmed to face the 3rd ball of the last over which was a wide to take the 1 wicket win. Huge credit must go to Mahaz Ahmaed for a mature innings of 78 not out, along with Ben Brommage who made 31 in their 9th wicket partnership of 70. The Green’s 20 points take them up to fifth in the league with Brockhampton the visitors next week.