LUDLOW & South Shropshire responded to skipper Will Sparrow’s rallying cry to secure a thumping seven-wicket victory at second-placed Wem.

Sparrow threw down the gauntlet to his players ahead of a run-in packed with testing fixtures as they chase second spot in the Shropshire League Premier Division.

And by racking up 24 unanswered points, Ludlow moved up to third and within 11 of their rivals for the runners-up berth by bowling out Wem for a meagre 72.

Tail-ender Phil Darlington top scored with 18 for the hosts as Matthew Kennedy (3-23), Luke Miles (3-24) and Sparrow (2-20) swept them aside. Sam Edwards tidied up the tail with two scalps from 10 balls in which he did not afford his opponents a single run.

In response, Sam Alford was dismissed for a duck and Edwards quickly followed but Sparrow (16 no), Jack Griffiths (20) and Miles (13 no) finished the job within 15 overs. Ludlow’s winning total was 73 for three.

Captain Scott Kemsley (45) led Ludlow 3rd to a 58-run win at Llanidloes.

Tom Gloster scored an unbeaten 27 as the visitors posted 155 all out with Adrian Foulkes (5-45) restricting Llanidloes to 97.