BISHOP’S Castle boosted their chances of finishing in the top two in Division 2 of the FBC Manby Bowdler Shropshire County League with a comfortable home win over second-placed Market Drayton at The Manor Ground.

Castle moved to within two points of their opponents and trail leaders Ellesmere by 13 points.

This trio are 50 points clear of the rest.

Simon Palmer took 7-50 off 18 overs to decimate the Market Drayton batting.

Their final total of 123 was mainly down to number eight Charles Harrison (48) and Richard Davies (12) who put on 63 for the 9th wicket.

Andrew Lewis (42) set Castle on the way towards their target and Jake Cintra (20no) completed the win in the 36th over.

􀁥 It was a different story for a muchweakened Church Stretton side at the other end of the table.

Stretton were ripped out for 105 at Willey with the home side going on to complete a nine-wicket win.

Peter Lee (31) and Harry Fell (18no) scored half the Stretton runs, while Cameron Holtz took an early wicket when Willey batted. L Rudd (55no) and J Duppa (34no) coasted to the win.

􀁥 Corvedale lead the way in Division 3 after they thrashed Pontesbury 2nd at Millichope Park.

They bowled the visitors out for 100 and then knocked the runs off in 15.4 overs for the loss of two wickets.

Ian Simmons took 4-15 and scored an unbeaten 54 (six fours and four sixes).

Harry Aldridge and James Kallith took two wickets apiece, and Bryn Simmons (35no) joined his brother in the run-spree after Pontesbury had taken two quick wickets.

􀁥 Leon Burnley completed a hattrick to end the Quayside innings and earn Ludlow 3rd a 116-run win in Division 5.

He clean bowled the first and third wicket, while wicket-keeper Keanu Cooper snapped up the other one.

Chasing Ludlow’s modest total of 157-8, Quayside were blown away for 41 by Burnley (7-12) and Craig Simmons (3-15), with opener Neil Bradshaw (12) the only batsman to reach double figures.

Steve Small (43) dominated the early part of the Ludlow innings, with Bryan Leighton (26), Justin Wheatley (27no) and James Gerritse (21no) making useful contributions later-on.

􀁥 Bishop’s Castle 2nd suffered a massive 10-wicket defeat in Division 6 when they met Wem 3rd at Prees CC.

The home side cruised home in 26.3 overs after restricting Castle to 142-9.

Jack Purkis (24), George Mellor (13), Peter Griffiths (14) and Josh Wall (26no) scored the bulk of their runs off the bat, but their final total owed a lot to 43 extras. This target posed no problems for Stewart Dakin (65no) and Lewis Mellings (56).