WILL SPARROW was left to rue his side’s luck after rain spoiled the party for Ludlow CC.

Sparrow shared an unbeaten partnership of 214 with youngster Keanu Cooper which put them right in control against Premier Division strugglers Forton.

Ludlow were 276-1 when the third of three rain interruptions brought the Shropshire County League game to an end with seven overs of the first innings still remaining.

Sparrow made 122 and Cooper 111 but it proved to be in vain and results elsewhere meant they slipped a place in the table.

“The key word for the day was frustrating,” said Sparrow. “It’s not very often you are in a position like that.

“I think the rain stopped us from getting 20 points.”

Sparrow admitted had they still been playing the win/lose/draw format rather than win/lose he would have declared much earlier in the hope of gaining a win.

“Obviously weren’t allowed to declare and by the time it rained for a third time we were getting on for 7pm. We knew earlier that there was some heavy rain coming so we would have pulled out at around 180-200 if we could.

“We aren’t having the luck, we’ve lost four of ten games already this season. It’s the sort of thing which happens when you are playing the bottom of the league rather than the top – but hopefully it with turn round soon.

“Having said that there were some real positives from the afternoon, especially Keanu. He is a very promising young player and it was a lot of fun watching him bat from the other end, and I’m fairly sure that was his first hundred for the first team.”

Sparrow said he may be without Cooper this weekend but hopes to have seamer Bryan Leighton back from university in time to bolster the bowling.

“Let’s just hope for a similar performance and dry day,” added the Ludlow skipper.