TAILENDERS Glen Whittaker and Sam Alford saved the day for Ludlow with an unbeaten 56-run partnership that turned the tables on Quatt in Saturday’s Shropshire League Premier Division showdown.

Chasing 150 to win, Will Sparrow’s men found themselves in a tight spot when Sam Edwards and Ruel Brathwaite were dismissed in quick succession with the scoreboard on 97.

Undeterred, Whittaker (22*) rattled off a quartet of fours with Alford weighing in with a six and a hat-trick of boundaries to inspire a two-wicket success at the Quatt Oval.

The hosts endured a mixed start as Ludlow steadily chipped away at the top order in damp conditions but Ricardo de Nobrega (55) proved stubborn with six fours from his 66 deliveries.

Skipper Sparrow (4-35) eventually saw him off at 145 for nine with Quatt’s total restricted to 149.

But Ludlow found life difficult with opener Edwards (40) the only man to carry the fight from the top end before Whittaker and Alford combined for their impressive last stand.

In Division Two, Richard Powell mercilessly ripped through Church Aston to inspire Bishop’s Castle to a 68-run success at Bowring Park.

Powell gave away just eight runs while taking seven wickets in 12.1 overs with only Avi Mathur (41) managing double figures while chasing Castle’s 151 for nine.

Jack Purkis (43), Richard Fifield (41) and Thomas Moulder (18) were the main contributors with Moulder (2-17) aiding Powell’s unstoppable power with the ball.

Elsewhere, James Warburg (42), Adam Harris (54) and Adam Groom (4-8) starred as Church Stretton beat Wheaton Aston by 21 runs.

Stretton mustered 135 for seven with Groom helping to stifle the response as Wheaton’s resistance was ended at 114.

The best efforts of Aaron Morris (5-14) and Zack Yarranton (3-37) proved in vain as Tenbury could only manage 55 in response to Claverley’s 118 in Worcestershire Division Four.