All-rounder stars in Ludlow victory

5:19pm Friday 9th May 2008

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Ludlow 133 Albrighton 90.

ALI Raza produced a fine all-round performance to lead Ludlow to a 43-run victory over Albrighton at The Burway on Saturday.

The Pakistani professional scored a half-century when Ludlow batted first, and followed up with five wickets to ensure that they claimed their first Marston Shropshire Premier League win of the season.

Sam Edwards and Tim Goldthorpe each scored 10 when the home team batted first after losing the toss. 21-0 soon became 21-3 and they appeared to be in trouble.

Raza (61) and Dave Bottoms (29) dug in deep to take the score past three figures and put Ludlow into a strong position on a tricky pitch. Once they were parted the wickets tumbled regularly, leaving Ludlow all out off the final ball.

Albrighton found runs hard to come by as well, and with Ali (5-12 off 10 overs), Peter Coote (3-20) and Edwards taking wickets at regular intervals the visitors never really threatened the home total. They were bowled out in 30 overs.

Ludlow bowed out of the Cockspur National Knockout when they went down by seven wickets at home to Penn, after posting a total of 139, on Sunday.

After a disastrous start batting first which saw them reeling at 14-3, Will Sparrow batted very well for 52. Backed up by Simon Lane (22) and double-figure contributions from Steve Small and Matt Hawes, plus a generous 35 extras, the innings lasted until the penultimate over.

Ludlow needed early wickets when they took to the field, but the Midland side reached three figures for the loss of just two wickets, and coasted to victory in the 29th over.