AUSSIE newcomer Todd Cornehls was on cloud nine after a dream debut for Church Stretton in Division Two of the Shropshire County League.

The former Bomere Heath strike bowler plundered the first nine Shrewsbury 3rd wickets to finish with a memorable 9-11 off nine overs - and was only denied a magical ten-wicket haul when Saif Khalid tied up the loose ends by claiming the final dismissal.

Daniel Watts (46) and skipper Peter Lee (15) were the only Stretton batsmen to scale double figures in their 102-9 off 35 overs, but that modest total proved more than enough once Cornehls got to work with the ball.

The Melburnian, who had failed to score with the bat, hit the stumps five times, claimed three lbws and also snapped up a caught and bowled as Shrewsbury 3rd sank to a paltry 31 all out in 21.3 overs. Five of his victims were dismissed without scoring.

Stretton skipper Peter Lee said: “Todd has recently moved into the area and he can’t play every week, but he showed he will be a big asset to us when he can play. I am sure he will be very quick on dry wickets later in the summer.

“At present the wickets are helping the bowlers and Todd bowled really well. Had he had the chance to bowl at the last man, I am sure he would have probably finished with all ten wickets.”

Lee, who claimed a hat-trick in the previous week’s season-opening victory over Iscoyd &?Fenns Bank, added: “That’s two wins from two games and we have lost both tosses as well. It is a better start to the season than I ever imagined we would make.”

Only one of Ludlow’s four teams managed to beat the rain but the 2nd were convincing 122-run winners over Beacon 2nd at The Burway in Reserve Division One.

A century from opener Richard Taylor, who made a league-best 119, was the cornerstone of their 187 all out in 39.5 overs and Beacon were then removed for 65, change bowler Tom Gloster doing the bulk of the damage with an impressive 7-10 return off 9.4 overs.

Bishop’s Castle also had things their own way in defeating Cae Glas by six wickets in Division Two. Richard Powell (3-9) and Edgar Whately (3-19) worked their way through the Cae Glas order, and a total of just 82 proved no problem for Castle, with openers Richard Plant (21) and Andrew Lewis (27) breaking the back of the target and Jonathan Price (10 not out) inching them home.

Opener Adam Williams cracked nine fours and three big sixes on the way to contributing 80 towards Corvedale’s 170-5 off 35 overs against Llanidloes in Division Three.

Skipper Ross Mantle also made 26 and Harry Aldridge 19 and Llanidloes then laboured to 78 all out in 32.5 overs. Their last five batsmen failed to trouble the scorers as Glyn Tipton, Corvedale’s sixth bowler, mopped up the Welshmen’s tail with 3-1 off just 17 balls.