CHURCH Stretton opener Saif Khalid hit a useful 31 to help his side to a 59-run victory over Welshpool in Shropshire League Division Two.

And with the impressive Todd Cornehls then taking six wickets, Stretton are now up to third in the table going into Saturday’s trip to basement club Cae Glas.

Welshpool won the toss and put the home side in to bat. Khalid stood solid and there were some useful contributions further down the order with Ben Crump (16), James Evans (15) and skipper Peter Lee (12) all adding to the tally.

But with the excellent Tom Anderson taking 5-18 off 11 overs, Stretton were all out for 116 after 34 overs.

Not that they needed to worry as Cornehls, Keith Yapp and Khalid ripped through the Welshpool card.

The Aussie pace ace had opener Roger Knight caught on two and there was to be no reprieve as he finished with figures of 6-24 from 12 overs.

Yapp (1-15) took the wicket of Adam Knight, the only player to reach double figures, while Khalid finished with 3-9 as Welshpool were dismissed for 57.

Also in Division Two, Bishop's Castle looked to be heading for victory until the rain forced their match with leaders Montgomery to be abandoned.

Andrew Lewis (29), Richard Powell (22) and Joe McKay (23) led the way for Castle as they posted 109 all out.

And that looked like being enough as some impressive bowling from Powell (3-6) and skipper Thomas Moulder (3-8) had the visitors in trouble at 49-7 before the rain bailed them out.

Corvedale failed to build on an excellent opening stand between Paul and Ross Mantle as they were beaten by four wickets by Harcourt in Division Three.

Ross Mantle top scored with 40 including a mighty six, while Paul chipped in with 39 but there followed a mini collapse before the unbeaten Edward Williams (32no) stopped the rot as the home side reached 154-7.

In reply, Harcourt made steady progress, reaching 156 for the loss of just six wickets which were shared around. Ross Mantle led the way with 2-28 from nine overs.

Bishop's Castle head to Tibberton on Saturday while Corvedale travel to Harpers.

Corvedale 2nd suffered a ten-wicket defeat at Broseley, skipper Ian Alderson (21) and Liam Farmer (10) the only players to reach double figures in a total of 55.

In reply, Broseley needed just 39 balls to hit their target.

And Bishop's Castle 2nd also missed out, losing by 130 runs at Albrighton 2nd for whom Darren Shimmons hit 100 not out. Matt Perry (20) top-scored for Castle as they were dismissed for 83.