IT finished honours just about even as Bishop’s Castle entertained Church Stretton in Division Two of the Shropshire County League.

Having won the toss, Castle invited their visitors to have first use of the Manor Ground pitch.

Richard Powell quickly removed wicketkeeper opener Andrew Chapman without scoring but after that early breakthrough the home side found wickets harder to come by.

Saif Khalid added 39 giving good support to Ben Crump as he compiled 72.

Khalid eventually fell to Powell before Thomas Moulder came to the party.

He grabbed four wickets including the prize scalp of Crump and also was involved in a run out.

James Warburg finished unbeaten with 29 as Church Stretton made their way to 194-7 from their 40 overs.

Moulder finished with 4-26 from eight overs which kept the visitors below 200. Powell ended with 2-46 from 12 overs but the others struggled with Paul Moulder’s five overs costing 25 and Paul Cottrell seeing his nine go for 56.

Castle’s reply started well with Richard Plant and Thomas Moulder giving them real hope of reaching their target.

Plant made 45 and skipper Moulder 49 and there was good support to follow after both fell to Khalid and Gabriel Williams.

Jack Purkis made 41 and Richard Fifield 27 but when they fell to Peter Lee (3-35) wickets began to fall regularly.

Khalid got rid of Rhys Evans and Thomas Evans and in the end Castle came up just short closing on 189-7.

The result sees Stretton just above Castle in the Division Two table after collecting 14 points to their hosts' 11 courtesy of a winning draw.

Castle 2nd enjoyed a winning afternoon as they beat their Newtown counterparts by 22 runs in a low-scoring game.

Winning the toss and batting first, Castle would post a total of 113-9 from their 40 overs.

At the top of the order Robert Kinsey made 31 but Satch Norton, Robert Kinsey and Christopher Irving mustered just one between them.

Gerald Jones (12), Stephen Morris (18) and skipper Simon Palmer (16) all collected useful runs.

Rick Davies with 3-18 was the pick of the Newtown bowling while Brandon Baynham bowled 12 overs which cost just 11 runs and gathered two wickets.

When Newtown replied, bowlers continued to hold the upper hand with Jack Morris bowled for a duck by Charlie Kinsey and Davies falling to Robert Kinsey.

Chris Bound’s 28 threatened to take the game in Newtown’s favour until he became Charlie Kinsey’s second victim.

Morris then got among the wickets (3-22) but Simon Palmer’s 4-11 proved to be decisive as the home side folded for just 91.