Wem 99 ao Ludlow 103-3

ADAM Williams found himself up the pecking order with both bat and ball on Saturday, and repaid his skipper by turning in excellent performances with both to help Ludlow to a comfortable seven-wicket win at Wem in the Proactive Shropshire League.

Opening the bowling along with last week's hero, Peter Milner he played his part in helping to reduce the home team to 60-7, by taking 3-22 off 11 overs with his outswingers, including the prize scalp of Ahmer Saeed for 10. Then coming in at number five, with the score on 63-3 and having lost three quick wickets, he helped Dave Bottoms steer Ludlow home with an unbroken partnership of 40. He finished on 23, including two fours in a 50 ball innings.

There was no danger of Wem matching their score of 414-3 at the Burway earlier in the season when they took first knock after losing the toss. Missing a couple of their star men and batting on a damp wicket they were soon in deep trouble.

Wickets tumbled regularly with R Davies, who put bat to ball for his 20, the only batsman to offer any real resistance. Milner took 4-54 off 18 overs and Pete Ezard polished off the tail with 3-6 off eight overs as the home side was bowled out for 99 in 39 overs.

With 51 overs available to reach their target the Ludlow openers, Ross Wharton (24) and Matthew Hawes (20) were in no hurry during a partnership of 53 for the first wicket. Bottoms was 18no when the victory target was reached.