Tibberton 161-5 Bishop’s Castle 164-4

BISHOP’S Castle bounced back from the previous weekend’s defeat with a comfortable fivewicket win over Tibberton at The Manor Ground.

Simon Palmer produced a frugal spell of bowling to help restrict the visitors and then half-centuries from Andrew Lewis and Richard Plant sealed the victory.

Castle are now four points clear of Market Drayton at the top of Division 2 in the FBC Manby Bowdler Shropshire County League.

Palmer took 4-32 off 18 overs to restrict the flow of runs, and it needed an unbeaten 39 from Dave McIntosh towards the end of the Tibberton knock to lift the runrate.

Castle lost two quick before Lewis (55) and Plant (60) knuckled down to see their side to the brink of victory. Jake Cintra (16) and Rhys Davies (15no) saw them home.

Church Stretton’s miserable form continued with a 123-run defeat at The John Faulkener Ground after the home side Iscoyd & Fenns Bank had rattled up 246-9.

Stretton were bowled out for 123 in 30.4 overs.

Matt Mullock (42), T Wynne 33 and Duncan Wright (66) got the home side off to a good start before wickets from Martin Nichols (2-49) and Peter Lee (2-61) hauled Stretton back into the contest. Tom Lea (58) held the second-half of the innings together despite Saif Khalid taking (5-65).

Khalid and Lee both scored 25, but once they were out only Nichols (34) offered any resistance to Paul Winfield (7-13) Ludlow 3rd lost by four wickets after they were restricted to 180-8 by visiting Guilsfield in Division 5.

Steve Small (30), Ian Havard (47) and Mark Burgoyne (23) were the main contributors for Ludlow, but half-centuries from David Harris and David Jones sealed their fate.

Craig Simmons took three wickets for the losers.

Dave Golightly took 4-4 for Corvedale 2nd who went on to gain a six-wicket win after skittling Wellington 5th out for 64 at Millichope Park in Division 7.

Craig Massey (29) led the runchase .