LUDLOW captain Will Sparrow led by example, smashing an unbeaten century to help steer his side to a 95-run victory at home to Market Drayton.

And after Luke Miles had chipped in with a half-century, Louis Watkins performed wonders with the ball, taking five wickets to wrap up a convincing win.

“It’s great to get the full 24 points against an impressive Market Drayton side,” Sparrow admitted. “The middle order showed our full potential as a strong batting line-up.

“And the win gives us some confidence going into a tough three-week period when we will be playing arguably the top three sides in the league.”

It wasn’t the best of starts for Ludlow who were reduced to 32-3 before Sparrow joined the fray. With decent support from Jack Griffiths (28) and Miles (50), the skipper was unbeaten on 105 at the close with his 101-ball innings including 15 fours and three 6s. Ruel Brathwaite also added a quickfire 21 – including two 6s – as the Burway side posted 260 all out.

In reply, Drayton struggled to get to grips with Watkins who took 5-36 from 13.3 overs. The other wickets fell to Griffiths, Brathwaite, Sparrow and Sam Alford as the visitors were dismissed for 165.

On Saturday, Ludlow make the trip to last season’s runners-up Quatt.

Ludlow 2nd suffered a five-wicket defeat at Lilleshall 2nd in spite of skipper Keanu Cooper hitting 72 while the 3rds lost by eight wickets at home to Chelmarsh.

It was a day to forget for Bishops Castle in Division Two as they went down by 189 runs at home to Alscott.

Things started well enough when Richard Plant (3-60) took an early wicket but a 155-run partnership then helped the visitors ease their way to 236-5 before they declared. Skipper Tom Moulder took the other two wickets.

In reply, the Castle run-chase never got going with no-one reaching double figures as the home side was skittled out for just 47 runs.

Division Two neighbours Church Stretton were also on the receiving end as they lost by four wickets at Ellesmere.

Opener Saif Khalid (48), skipper Peter Lee (28) and Adam Harris (18) all made runs but the lower order failed to keep the scoreboard ticking over and the visitors struggled to 148-9 from their 40 overs.

It took Ellesmere 29 overs to reach their target, an impressive 74 from opener Jack Cockayne seeing them to 150-6. Todd Cornehls (2-45) was the pick of the bowlers.

In Division Three, Corvedale lost by 212 runs at Calverhall for whom opener Chris Rowe hit 101 off 100 balls. Glyn Tipton and Sher Muhammad Zahid took two wickets apiece as the home side reached 300-5 from their 40 overs.

Tipton (24) then top-scored for the visitors who only fielded ten players and who were all out for 88 inside 19 overs.

On Saturday, Church Stretton play host to Wheaton Aston while Bishop's Castle go to Church Aston. Corvedale are at home to Trysull & Seisdon.