STAND-IN skipper Luke Miles hailed an all-round team effort after his Ludlow CC side took a huge step towards securing their Shropshire Premier Division status with a vital victory at the weekend.

Ludlow beat basement side Cound by 110 runs to move 51 points clear of the bottom two – one more win from their final three games will be enough to ensure top-flight cricket at Burway Lane next season.

Miles, usually vice-captain but standing in for absent skipper Ruel Brathwaite, led from the front, taking four wickets and sharing a century opening partnership with Sam Edwards.

But with an impressive knock from Edwards, four wickets from Will Armitage and plenty of other key contributions with bat, ball and in the field, Miles insisted everyone played their part.

He said: “Our top order batted really well and set the game up nicely for us, then Josh Williams, who is only 15, opened the bowling really well, he bowled out of his skin.

“It was a comfortable win in the end – Jack Case, their opening batsman, was the key wicket and as soon as he was out, we just felt it was a matter of time although Cound did resist well.

“When you’re captain, you like to take it upon yourself to do the brunt of the work and I felt like I stepped up and did well but it was an all-round team effort.”

Miles hit a patient 38 while Edwards smashed a boundary-laden 86 as the pair put on 119 for Ludlow’s opening wicket.

When Miles was caught out, Edwards was supported by Glen Whittaker (28) and Chris Ammonds (31) before a good spell from Case (4-68) saw Ludlow slip from 167-1 to 203-5.

However, Sam Roberts (18) and Edward Riley (12no) helped Ludlow reach a solid 235-8.

In reply, Miles (4-34) and Ammonds (2-18) carved through the Cound top order before Armitage (4-11) saw off the tail as the visitors were all out for 125.

Ludlow visit Worfield this Saturday before hosting the South Shropshire four-team T20 finals on Sunday.

They face Tenbury at 10.30am with the winners taking on Cleobury Mortimer or Burway Renegades in the final.

Miles said: “We would like to go out and win our last few games and take a bit of momentum into next season with the side we have.

“Another win will keep us safe and we have had a very young side this season so we always knew it was going to be a change-up year.”

Ludlow’s Second XI won the reverse fixture as George Piper produced stunning figures of 6-18 to help skittle Cound for 111 all out.

They lost a few wickets in reply but skipper Luke Hicks (28no) and Joe Webb (25) helped them stroll to a five-wicket win.

The Third XI could not make it a hat-trick of victories but did claim a winning draw against Montgomery.

Skipper Scott Kemsley top-scored with 36 as Ludlow were all out for 162 but Alex Roberts (4-23) and Daniel Ashley (3-30) restricted Montgomery to 130-9 in reply.