Ludlow 197-7 Madeley 151

BADEN Wilton, Tom Simmons and Louis Watkins all produced fine all-round performances to lead Ludlow to a comfortable 46 run Marston’s Shropshire County Premier League win against Madeley at The Burway on Saturday.

After winning the toss and electing to bat, acting skipper Wilton went in at number six with his side on 73-4, having made a partial recovery after they had slipped to 22-3. He struck an unbeaten half century, which included three fours and two sixes.

Matt Hawes (26) helped Wilton to take the score past three figures, but it was the injection of aggression from Simmons (21 off 19 balls) and Watkins (24 off 21) which helped him virtually double the score in the closing overs. Ludlow completed their 50 overs on 197-7.

Wilton (5-54 off 14 overs) made early inroads into the Madeley innings, and Watkins (4-23) skittled the lower order as Madeley were bowled out in 38 overs for 151. The prize wicket of Jonathan Prince, who scored a run-a-ball 74 went to Simmons.

Aggressive half centuries from Sam Edwards (57 off 58 balls) and Rob Genner (59 off 41) helped Ludlow to post an impressive target of 203-9 when their Bank Holiday Monday fixture with Newtown at The Burway was reduced to 26 overs due to rain.

Will Spar row (4-40) and Watkins (5-26) combined forces to skittle the Welsh side out for 86 in 18 overs, to leave Ludlow with an impressive 117-run victory.

Ludlow seconds also completed a double win over the weekend.

They gained a thrilling onewicket win at Madeley on Saturday after bowling the home side out for 165, and then followed it up with a threewicket success at Newtown on Monday after skittling their hosts out for 76.

Dave Gadsby (two wickets and 48 runs) and Dave Proctor (three wickets and 32 runs) laid the foundations for the win at Madeley, but the last-wicket pair of Sebastian Kidson and Ed Rayen, who had also taken three wickets between them, which saw them over the line.

Dyla Grinker (42 not out) was the star man at Newtown after the bowlers had set up the win.