BATTING collapses were the order of the day in the Shropshire League as Ludlow, Bishops Castle and Church Stretton all suffered chastening defeats.

Ludlow finished the Premier Division season eighth but ended on a low note as they failed to chase down visitors Wem’s lowly 94 all out at The Burway.

Alfie Holliehead (4-16), Okera Bascome (3-28) and Luke Miles (3-35) shone with the ball but Ludlow’s batting problems resurfaced as they were skittled for 82 in reply.

Two weekends remain in the lower divisions but Castle and Stretton occupy the bottom two places in Division Four.

Stretton are all but certain to finish bottom after being dismissed for 94 in a ten-wicket defeat at Wheaton Aston.

Castle can still stay up but will need to improve on a poor batting display that saw them all out for a paltry 48 in reply to Iscoyd and Fenns Banks’s 176-8.

There was some good news in Division Six as Corvedale’s walkover win against Shrewsbury thirds lifted them three places off the foot of the table into ninth position.