Ludlow 2nd 274-5

Market Drayton 130

LUDLOW produced a fine all-round team performance to see off the challenge of their visiting Market Drayton counterparts and move up to the top half of the Shropshire Premier reserve League.

The visitors won the toss and asked Ludlow to bat.

Home skipper Steve Burgoyne and Matthew Hawes made a confident start and put on 40 for the first wicket until Hawes departed for 23.

Rob Genner joined Burgoyne and the second wicket partnership was developing nicely until Genner holed out for 11.

Burgoyne and Michael Payne kept the scoreboard ticking along with an aggressive third wicket stand until Burgoyne went for a fine 40, closely followed by Payne for a useful 31.

Payne hit a brisk 61, and an aggressive unbroken stand of 90 for the sixth wicket between Tom Tench (61 not out) and Rupert Inglesant (29 not out) enabled Ludlow to declare at a formidable 274-5 with two overs left of their allotted 50 overs.

Pete Ezzard and Justin Wheatley each claimed an early wicket and Drayton were always struggling to keep up with the required run-rate.

Wickets fell at regular intervals and Drayton crumbled to 130 all out, Tench completing an impressive all-round performance with 4-27, and Collins 4-16.