CHURCH Stretton suffered a disappointing day in Division Three of the Shropshire Cricket League, losing by 105 runs to Much Wenlock.

Skipper Peter Lee won the toss and elected to field, something he was probably regretting after the visitors made a sparkling start, cruising to 144-2.

Opener Matthew Green scored a lively 21 before falling to the bowling of Ed Groom with the score on 41. But Connor Bennett and Scott Furber then put on 103 for the next wicket before Furber was trapped lbw by Ben Crump for 59.

Bennett went on to score a steady 33 while Stretton bowlers Crump (3-19) and Saif Khalid (3-26) worked their way through the remainder of the card as Much Wenlock were left on 200-8 from 45 overs, a total bolstered by 33 extras.

In reply, the hosts found runs hard to come by against some tight bowling with the impressive Richard Bill finishing with 4-10 from eight overs.

Khalid (eight) and fellow opener Charlie Reece (four) failed to trouble the scorers and it was left Rob Whittall to kick-start the reply with a 43-run knock including four 4s and a 6. But once he’d been bowled by all-rounder Furber, the challenge withered and Stretton were all out for 95 after 38 overs. Skipper Lee (ten) was the only other player to hit double figures.

In Division Four, Corvedale clinched a seven-wicket win at Coton Hall where skipper Ross Mantle was star with both bat and ball.

His 5-15, along with a useful 3-15 from Craig Massey, helped send the home side back to the pavilion having been skittle out for just 92.

Mantle then top scored with 39 and with Massey (30) and Glyn Tipton (16no) chipping in, Corvedale reached 96-3.