LUDLOW skipper Will Sparrow helped steer his side to a vital 46-run victory over title rivals Worfield.

But he won’t have the chance to build on his impressive 85 runs from 83 balls next week at basement boys Albrighton as he’ll be at the altar rather than at the crease, getting married to fiancée Holly.

“I’ll have to keep my phone off during the ceremony but I’m planning to keep an eye on things at the reception later,” the captain admitted.

“Three of the other lads – Jack Griffiths, Gareth Parker and Louis Watkins – will also miss the game but hopefully we’ll still have enough to get something at Albrighton as we have a couple of lads coming back.”

One of those making their return is Glen Whitaker who has missed the last few games with a broken thumb but hit a century playing for the 2nds in his comeback game at the weekend.

Against Worfield, the Burway visitors won the toss and elected to field – something which suited Sparrow.

“We’d planned to bat first so it worked well,” he explained. “We wobbled a little at the start but myself and Mark Porteous batted for a long time and we did well in the last few overs to push the score up.

Openers Will Gough and Sam Edwards fell early on to leave Ludlow on 29-2 with Griffiths then being caught behind with the score on 63.

But with Sparrow in the groove and Porteous playing a fine supporting role, the pair put on 119 for the fourth wicket before the skipper was trapped lbw.

Porteous hit a useful 30 and there were decent contributions from Chris Ammonds (16no) and Luke Miles who hit 19 off 18 balls including two sixes as the home side posted 247-8.

In reply, Worfield eased their way to 132-3 before Miles caught dangerman William Fox-Davies for 51 off the bowling of Watkins – a total that included four sixes.

Sparrow then ran out the next batsman and the visitors proceeded to lose their last five wickets for just 11 runs.

“We were happy with the total but they made a really good start and were right up with the run rate,” Sparrow added. “It looked as though they were going to cruise to victory but we kept getting wickets at vital times.

“Sam [Edwards] and Chris [Ammonds] bowled well in the second part of the innings and in the end it was a cracking win to close the gap on Worfield and keep in touch with leaders Whitchurch whm we play in a few weeks.”

Edwards finished with 3-17 while Ammonds took 3-54. Ruel Brathwaite and Miles also took wickets.