A STYLISH century from Indian Premier League superstar Rajat Bhatia proved the difference as Ludlow fell short in a bold run chase against Shropshire County League Premier Division rivals Newport.

Bhatia, a 35-year-old all-rounder who played for the Rajasthan Royals in the recent IPL campaign, has joined Newport this season to further their bid for a return to the Birmingham League.

His classy 120 off 102 balls was the backbone of Newport posting a 286-4 total off 50 overs as they made the most of a decent batting pitch at The Burway.

Bhatia added 170 with opener Joe Watson (89) for the second wicket, though Watson twice survived dropped catches before he had reached 50.

Both Bhatia and Watson were eventually dismissed by Ludlow’s South African professional Kevin Hinton, with Bhattia caught in the deep by Jamie Smith as he went for some big shots to celebrate reaching three figures.

The tenacious Hinton’s final figures of 3-88 off 15 overs masked a really tight opening spell in which he conceded only 17 runs from eight overs.

Ludlow’s Jamie Smith and Keanu Cooper then did their best to match the efforts of Bhatia and Watson, with the in-form Smith plundering 90 (seven fours and four sixes) and Cooper an entertaining 64 off just 60 balls (eight fours and three sixes).

They shared a second-wicket alliance of 111 and with Jack Griffiths also making a breezy 27 off 28 balls, at 210-2 with plenty of overs left Ludlow were still in with a shout of victory.

But once Smith was out at 220-5, bowled by Mark Downes (5-69), their hopes receded and they were dismissed for 256 in the 48th over. Opening bowler Bhatia returned to the attack to finish with 4-32 off 14 overs.

Ludlow spokesman Phil Parker said: “It was a really good effort, especially as we were short of bowlers with Richard Taylor (knee injury), Chris Ammonds and James Gerritse all missing.

“Bhatia is a class batsman and not quite the sort we are used to facing in the Shropshire League, though it is a good experience for bowlers to bowl against such players.

“Jamie, Keanu and Jack Griffiths all batted really well and we went for it.

"We looked to be in with a chance for a long time but in the end we came up short.”

Smith and Cooper were also in blistering form to maintain Ludlow’s 100 per cent record in the South Shropshire Twenty20 League last Wednesday night.

Smith bludgeoned four sixes and five fours in a 55-ball innings of 89 not out and Cooper smashed 13 fours and a six in making 71 off just 35 deliveries as Ludlow bettered Dales’ 184-6.

The pair put on 136 for the second wicket as they carted the ball to all parts in helping Ludlow home with 2.2 overs to spare.

Cleobury Mortimer, yet to record a victory in the competition, were beaten again by Pencombe after being bowled out for 129 in the 20th over.

Nick Griffiths (43) and skipper Ben Griffiths (21) scored nearly half their runs and Pencombe eased home in the 18th over thanks to an unbeaten 65 from Greg Leighton.