CHURCH Stretton boosted their hopes of a top-four finish in Shropshire League Division Three with an impressive bowling display in a 29-run win over Iscoyd and Fenns Bank.

Stretton looked in trouble when Duncan Chaplin (4-29) quickly saw off their opening four batsmen but the middle order of Ben Crump (29), Jonathan Holt (23) and Huw Bevan (21) rebuilt.

Tail-enders Keith Yapp (18no) and Edward Groom (16no) added valuable runs as Stretton, aided by 33 extras from a wayward Iscoyd attack, posted 168-8.

In reply, Iscoyd fell short on 139 all out as Groom (3-36) and Yapp (3-46) accounted for the top order and skipper Peter Lee (2-10) finished the job despite a fine knock from the visitors’ star man Chaplin (54no).

A fine unbeaten 62 from opener Chris Moore helped Corvedale beat Quayside by five wickets in Shropshire Division Four.

Chasing Quayside’s 177-8, Moore put on an opening partnership of 43 with Sher Mohammad Zahid (31) and a third-wicket stand of 91 with Craig Massey (47) as Corvedale cruised home at 180-5 with more than seven overs to spare.

Ian Alderson (3-15) had earlier been the pick of Corvedale’s bowlers while Zahid (2-28) and Brian Williams (2-32) also chipped in.

In Marches League Division Two, meanwhile, relegated basement side Knighton on Teme’s season concluded with a 45-run defeat at home to Almeley.

The visitors posted 266-3, thanks largely to Ewan Cardwell (79) and Nick Evans, and despite an excellent half-century from Jack Kitchen (54), Knighton fell short on 221-9 in reply.