Steve Leach

Shrewsbury seek double celebration

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By Stuart Dunn, @studunn21, at The Shrewsbury Chronicle

SHREWSBURY’S cricketers are seeking a double celebration as they bring the curtain down on their successful season this weekend.

The London Roaders, who wrapped up the Birmingham League title with three games to spare, know victory in Saturday’s final premier division game at home to relegated Wombourne will see them set a new record high points total by any team in top flight history.

Then they take on Barnt Green, once again with home advantage, in the Graham Williamson Trophy final (12.30pm).

“We’ve won this competition three years on the trot,” said captain Rob Foster. “It would be nice to make it four and end the season with another trophy.”

Shrewsbury received a bye through to the final after Berkswell, their scheduled semi-final opponents, were unable to play on any of the dates offered them by the Birmingham League.

If Shrewsbury are to get their hands of yet more silverware, their strength in depth will need to come into its own as openers Ed Foster and Steve Leach – who have both hit more than 800 league runs this season – are unavailable for Sunday’s Trophy final.

Wicketkeeper Anthony Parker and all-rounder Alex Blofield are among the other non-starters as Shrewsbury’s selection options are stretched.

Foster is also keen for his side end their excellent league campaign with another positive result against Wombourne, particularly as Shrewsbury tasted defeat for just the third time this season at West Bromwich Dartmouth last weekend.

“We would love to finish with another win,” added the skipper.

SHREWSBURY (v Wombourne), from: E Foster, S Leach, J Leach, T Cox, R Foster, A Parker, A Blofield, S Barnard, E Green, S Griffiths, M Barnard, W Parton, D Manders.

Anthony Parker

Parker sets record as Shrewsbury collect trophy

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By Stuart Dunn, @studunn21, at The Shrewsbury Chronicle

CHAMPIONS Shrewsbury are now a massive 90 points clear at the top of the Birmingham Cricket League’s premier division after handing out a nine-wicket beating to Brockhampton just before skipper Rob Foster was presented with the title trophy.

And it was also a rewarding day for consistent wicketkeeper Anthony Parker as he set a new club Birmingham League record for the most dismissals in a season.

It was another dominant display from the London Roaders with England under-19 star Ed Barnard making a pleasing return to first team action following a long injury lay-off.

Opening batsman Steve Leach again underlined his promise with another fine knock, Steve Barnard bowled sharply to claim four wickets and then there was wicketkeeper Parker’s record.

The Shropshire glovesman, who ended a long association with Shifnal to join Shrewsbury this season, held on to three catches and completed a sharp stumping to take his number of league victims this term to 35.

It broke the previous club record of 32 dismissals achieved by Jack Brydon in the 2008 season with Parker’s contribution highlighted by skipper Foster.

He always knew Parker would add much to the Shrewsbury side which is why he was so pleased to entice him to London Road as a replacement for popular South African Ryan Bishop.

“It just shows how well he has kept,” said Foster. “He’s been superb behind the stumps and I can’t think of anything he’s missed all season.

“He’s been a great addition and has changed the dynamic of our side as he’s just got that X-factor down the order when he bats that takes games away from people while behind the stumps he’s a proven winner.

“Bish was a tough act to follow, but he’s done very well.”

Brockhampton, one of only two teams to have beated Shrewsbury in the league this season, never looked like conjuring up a repeat once Steve Barnard (4-38) reduced them to 44-4.

Ben Stebbings (46) and Dave Exall (25), two of Brock’s many Herefordshire Minor Counties regulars, attempted to lead a fightback, but Shrewsbury were always on top as they removed the visitors for 136.

There were also wickets for Sam Griffiths (2-24), Dan Manders (2-35) and Mike Barnard (2-37).

Shrewsbury, in reply, quickly lost Ed Foster for 12, but not before he had broken his own Birmingham League record of runs in a season. He now has 857 this year.

That brought together teenagers Steve Leach and Ed Barnard and they shared in an unbroken second-wicket stand of 111 as Shrewsbury eased to 139-1 and 20 more points against a side who had started the day in second place in the table.

Leach carried his bat for an unbeaten 61 from 106 balls, passing 700 league runs for the season in the process, while Barnard played like he had never been away for 46 not out.

Skipper Foster, whose side head to West Bromwich Dartmouth on Saturday, hailed it as a another complete team performance.

“Steve Barnard really led the way with the ball, taking four quality wickets, and he was well backed up,” he said. “Then the batting was just clinical with Steve Leach superb again and so was Ed Barnard. It was very pleasing for everyone to see him back in a Shrewsbury shirt.”

Meanwhile, a day after being presented with the Birmingham League championship trophy, Shrewsbury skipper Rob Foster took delivery of more silverware as he lifted the Salop Leisure Twenty20 prize.

Shrewsbury, no strangers to success in the popular annual competition held at their London Road headquarters, beat Oswestry comfortably in the semi finals before seeing off Shifnal, last four conquerors of Whitchurch, in the final.

Sam Griffiths was the leading light for the county towners in the semi final, snaring 4-13, while there was also some success for Ed Foster (2-7) and Alex Johnson (2-18) as Oswestry were bowled out for 69.

Shrewsbury then eased to 71-3 inside nine overs with Brockhampton captain Ben Stebbings, their one permitted guest player, hitting an unbeaten 47.

That set up a Shrewsbury v Shifnal final later in the day and the hosts prevailed by six wickets.

Shifnal batted first and decent contributions from their South African guest Morne Heyneke (39), who captains Brewood, and Simon Gregory (30) pushed the total up to 134-9 from their 20 overs.

Mike Barnard (3-20) and Dan Manders (3-28) bowled well for Shrewsbury while ex-Cound man Johnson removed county captain Richard Oliver for just five.

Shrewsbury then chased well to reach 136-4 with 20 balls to spare as Will Parton (39no), Ed Foster (32) and Steve Barnard (17no) led the way.

Ed Barnard

Foster happy to have Ed Barnard back

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By Stuart Dunn, @studunn21, at The Shrewsbury Chronicle

ENGLAND under-19 star Ed Barnard’s welcome return from injury has added to the feelgood factor sweeping Shrewsbury as they chase a new Birmingham Cricket League record for the most points recorded by a team in a premier division season..

Barnard, 17, enjoyed a pleasing comeback from a long-term injury absence by hitting an unbeaten 46 as champions Shrewsbury hammered Brockhampton last weekend.

With two games of the season remaining, Shrewsbury now sit a mighty 90 points clear at the top of the table.

And should they sign off with two more victories, at West Bromwich Dartmouth on Saturday and at home to relegated Wombourne the following weekend, they would break the record for the highest points total ever achieved by a top flight club in the history of the Birmingham League.

That’s currently held by Knowle & Dorridge who put 374 points on the board in winning the title in 2009.

Shrewsbury currently have 354 points although their tally has been enhanced by half the games this term being played in a win-lose format.

“We just want to win the last two and finish as well as we can,” said captain Rob Foster, who welcomes leg spinner Elliot Green back from injury in place of Dan Manders on Saturday.

Foster stressed he was delighted to have exciting teenage all-rounder Barnard available again following a season ravaged by injury owing to a stress fracture in his lower back.

His lay off came at a particularly unfortunate time for the Shrewsbury School pupil who had been hoping to consolidate his place in the England under-19 team following a successful winter tour to South Africa in which he scored a century on his Youth Test debut in Cape Town.

“Ed’s missed effectively the whole season and everyone was saying how good he looked against Brockhampton,” said Foster.
“That’s why he’s an England under-19 player as he looked superb and that’s really pleasing.

“It would be nice for Ed to show how good he is really in the last couple of games of the season and why we all think so highly of him.

“He played a lot of cricket over the winter and he trained and worked so hard.

“I would imagine it’s been very frustrating for Ed but it’s also probably been good to have a little bit of a step back.

“It’s made him realise just how much he loves playing the game and sometimes it’s not a bad thing to have a little step back.”

Foster added he was hopeful his older brother Ed, Shrewsbury’s consistent opener, could still push to hit 1,000 Birmingham League runs in a season for the first time.

He has currently plundered 857 league runs, his best ever summer, at an average of just over 46.

“By his standards, he’s not got a lot of runs the last two or three games,” said the skipper. “But he will be hoping for a big finish in the last two matches to see if he can push towards 1,000 league runs. That would be a great milestone for him.

“He’s been outstanding this year and has won us a lot of games with the bat.”

SHREWSBURY: E Foster, S Leach, E Barnard, T Cox, R Foster, A Parker, A Blofield, S Barnard, E Green, M Barnard, S Griffiths.

Joe Leach

Joe Leach hails efforts of Salop Captain Rob Foster

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By Stuart Dunn, @studunn21, at The Shrewsbury Chronicle

JOE LEACH, Shrewsbury’s Worcestershire all-rounder, has saluted the efforts of skipper Rob Foster in leading the London Road club to Birmingham League title glory in his first season at the helm.

Leach, who grabbed five wickets in Monday’s title-clinching 127 run drubbing of Walsall, said Foster had handled the step up to captaincy impressively since succeeding his brother Ed in the top job.

Ed captained Shrewsbury to their first Birmingham League title in 2010 and followed it up with an ECB National Club Championship triumph 12 months later.

But Leach was keen to praise Rob’s leadership qualities after Shrewsbury were crowned champions with three games to spare, a remarkable achievement.

“Rob’s done it slightly differently,” said Leach. “He’s taken a little bit more of a relaxed approach than what Ed did and it’s worked.

“It’s also co-incided with the change in rules to 50 over win-lose cricket at the start and end of the league season which has been to our favour. That format suits us down to the ground.

“But Rob’s done a really good job. He’s kept his head and he’s captained as well as Ed did at any point so credit to him for that because Ed was a tough act to follow.”

Even during a season in which he has become a first team regular for Worcestershire, Leach insisted being part of such a successful Shrewsbury team meant so much to him.

“I thought this team could go on and win a lot of things so it’s nice that it’s starting to come to fruition,” he said. “It’s a pretty good feeling.

“I’m really pleased for the lads because they really deserve it and hopefully there’s lots more to come.”

Shrewsbury opted to bat first at a sun-kissed London Road against Walsall, the team they have succeeded as champions, but they were soon in a spot of bother at 50-3.

Help was just around the corner as opener Steve Leach, Joe’s younger brother, batted with real maturity to make a patient 65 as he shared in a 105 run stand for the fourth wicket with skipper Foster, who cracked 58 from 70 deliveries.

Wicketkeeper Anthony Parker then weighed in with a rapid 41 as Shrewsbury were bowled out for 223.

Walsall, in reply, quickly slumped to 46-5 with Joe Leach (5-29) grabbing all five wickets to take Shrewsbury to the brink of victory.

“That’s my role in the team, to lead from the front with the ball, so it was nice to do that,” he said.

Michael Barnard then got in on the act with 3-38 from the other end before Elliot Green, having miraculously recovered from an injury which had threatened to end his season, claimed the final wicket as he had Josh Bowker caught by Alex Blofield.

It ensured Walsall were all out for just 96 and signalled the start of the Shrewsbury celebrations with the ecstatic players quick to soak team manager Trevor Sheperd with champagne.

“I’m delighted,” said skipper Foster. “It was nice to win it so early and at home with a lot of people there. It’s a really good feeling.

“We chose to bat first and at 50-3 I thought it might be a bad choice. Myself and Steve Leach put a good partnership together before ‘Mushy’ (Anthony Parker) came in at the end and really took the game away from Walsall.

“Joe Leach with the new ball was then outstanding. He’s just a different level really and his first four dismissals were either caught at slip or caught behind, proper wickets. He was the difference with the ball but Mike Barnard backed him up at the other end which was good to see.”

Shrewsbury had moved to within touching distance of title glory by pulling off a three-wicket win at Wolverhampton on Saturday.

Skipper Foster kept his cool to see the job through with an unbeaten 26 as Shrewsbury bided their time to progress past the winning post to 121-7.

Steve Barnard had earlier helped himself to 3-24, his victims including Worcestershire’s Aneesh Kapil for just six, as relegation-threatened Wolverhampton, having opted to bat first, were bowled out for 120.

The Blofield brothers were also among the wickets, with Alex taking 2-15 and Henry 2-17.

And that win paved the way for a truly memorable London Road day on Monday as Shrewsbury once again underlined they are the top club in the Midlands.

Rob Foster

Foster eyes more of the same

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By Stuart Dunn, @studunn21, at The Shrewsbury Chronicle

ROB FOSTER, Shrewsbury’s proud captain, wants his talented young side to become a dominant force in the Birmingham Cricket League after being crowned champions for the second time inside four years.

Shrewsbury wrapped up the premier division title of a league renowned as one of the best in the country with three games to spare after a five-wicket burst from Worcestershire all-rounder Joe Leach set up a convincing win over Walsall in front of a big London Road crowd on Monday.

Now Foster, delighted to have led his home town club to glory in his first season at the helm, is hungry for plenty more success.

“That’s got to have to be our aim now,” said Foster. “Wellington always go on about the fact they won the Birmingham League two years running in 2003 and 2004 so it would be nice to win it again next year.

“But you can’t take anything for granted in this league. You’ve just got to turn up and perform every week really. As soon as you start getting ahead of yourselves, you struggle.

“It’s just nice to win it as it’s great for the club and great for the lads.

“We’ve come a long way as a group since we first won the league in 2010 so it’s been very pleasing all round.

“We’ve only lost two of our 19 games this season in the league which shows how well we’ve played so I think it’s all credit to ourselves that we’ve finished it so early. We’ve been outstanding this year.”

Foster stressed it had been a real team effort this season, highlighting the contribution of the whole first team squad.

“It’s a credit to the strength of the club in the firsts and seconds really,” he said. “We’ve used something like 18 or 19 players on a Saturday in the first team.

“Henry Blofield pulled out of Monday’s game with tonsillitis but he’s stepped up into the first team bracket this season. Dan Manders has been around a long time but he put in a key performance for us at Walmley and people like Tom Ellis have also played their part at times.

“We’ve missed Ed Barnard the whole year and he’s probably the outstanding player his age in England having already played for England’s under-19s at 17 so it really has been a great all round effort.”

Foster now wants his team to push for more wins over the final three games of the season, beginning with Saturday’s visit of Brockhampton, one of only two sides to have beaten Shrewsbury in the league this season.

“We’ve earned the right to enjoy these three games and play with a bit more freedom,” said the skipper. “But it would be nice to get three more wins on the board and really hammer it home for the season. We don’t want to ease off or play poorly so it’s up to us to keep winning.”

Leach is ruled out through Worcestershire duty this weekend but Foster revealed there was a chance England batsman James Taylor, the club’s contracted player from Nottinghamshire, could be drafted in for his second apperance of the season.

“He might come in,” smiled Foster. “If he’s about and wants to play, I’ll try and get him in.”

There’s also cricket at London Road on Sunday with Shrewsbury hosting the popular Salop Leisure Twenty20 Knockout.

Shrewsbury take on Oswestry in the first semi final (10.30am) with the second last four clash between Whitchurch and Shifnal to follow. The two winners will then contest the final.

“It should be a good day, an enjoyable day,” added Foster. “It will be nice to have a few teams from around the county here.”

Steve Barnard

Steve Barnard the hero in hard-fought win

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By Stuart Dunn, @studunn21, at The Shrewsbury Chronicle

ROB FOSTER was all smiles after Steve Barnard’s late heroics with the bat kept Shrewsbury right on course to be crowned Birmingham League champions.

Two more victories over a busy Bank Holiday weekend which takes Shrewsbury to Wolverhampton on Saturday before hosting Walsall on Monday would take the London Roaders to the brink of title glory.

The ice cool Barnard hit a six and then a four from the final two balls of a dramatic premier division clash as Shrewsbury just about reached their revised victory target after several rain interruptions to seal a hard-earned two-wicket verdict over Walmley.

Joe Leach, Shrewsbury’s Worcestershire all-rounder, had earlier underlined his first class credentials by bowling sharply to take six wickets.

But it was the way in which Barnard stayed focused to secure another priceless victory which really delighted skipper Foster and the watching spectators, among them James Taylor, the Nottinghamshire and England batsman, and Shrewsbury’s high profile contracted player.

“It was nerve racking at the end,” said Foster. “We were far from our best so it’s always nice to win. Steve Barnard was magic really at the end, hitting the winning runs.

“It’s the second time this season against Walmley that we quite comfortably could have lost so it was great to win to keep our lead at the top, especially as Brockhampton also won.

“It’s a big result as it keeps us 55 points ahead with 100 points to play for.

“It’s massively in our hands so we just need to turn up and perform a bit better than we did against “Walmley.”

Walmley batted first and a 174 run stand for the fourth wicket between former Warwickshire and Derbyshire man Mo Sheikh, unbeaten on 102, and Andrew Hendry (89), formed the bedrock of their 258-9 from 50 overs.

Leach was far and away the pick of the Shrewsbury attack, taking 6-34 from 10 sharp overs a day after helping Worcestershire beat Bangladesh A at New Road.

“Joe was brilliant,” said Foster. “He did exactly what you want him to do and was the stand out by far, miles above anyone else who bowled for us.

“The rest of our bowling and fielding efforts was pretty ordinary all round which was disappointing, but Joe was outstanding which was good to see.”

Shrewsbury began their reply set a revised target of 238 from a reduced 40 overs but a couple more interruptions owing to rain eventually meant the figure that mattered was 190 in 32 overs.

After the final delay it all came down to the county towners needing to hit 47 from the final 4.4 overs and on the resumption Shropshire wicketkeeper Anthony Parker promptly cracked three successive sixes.

Shrewsbury then had a little wobble before Barnard (14no) hit a six off the penultimate ball of the match followed by a four off the final delivery to lead the relieved hosts over the line to 193-8.

Tom Cox, at No 5, had earlier dug in to hit 54 while Parker (37), Rob Foster (23) and Ed Foster (20) also contributed.
“Anthony’s three sixes in a row swung the game back in our favour,” added the skipper. “At one stage we needed 19 to win off the last three overs and I thought we would cruise it.

“We then nearly threw it away but then Steve Barnard came up with the goods again.”

Ed Foster

Foster century helps Shrewsbury maintain lead

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By Stuart Dunn, @studunn21, at The Shrewsbury Chronicle

RUN MACHINE Ed Foster helped himself to his second century in as many weeks as Shrewsbury stayed well out in front at the top of the Birmingham League’s premier division.

A week on from hitting a club record 169 against Kidderminster, the imperious Foster was at it again, his class shining through, as Shrewsbury collected 17 points from a winning draw at Barnt Green.

The ultra consistent opener cracked 105 to take his number of Birmingham League runs this season to 636.

“Ed’s playing fantastically at the moment,” said Shrewsbury captain Rob Foster, his younger brother. “His talent is shining through and having spent a lot of time in the middle against Kidderminster this was another great innings.

“He’s seeing the ball really well and the pitches are very good which suits him.”

Foster, who hit nine fours, and Steve Leach, in good touch for 58, put on 135 for the first wicket.

Zain Shahid, who claimed 5-55, helped peg them back a little, but Shrewsbury still managed to post an impressive 263-6 from their 55 overs with Rob Foster (25), Matt Swift (24) and Anthony Parker (20no) also contributing.

Barnt Green, in reply, were quickly in trouble at 34-3 and 62-5 with former Shelton man Sam Griffiths, opening the bowling in the absence of Worcestershire’s in-form Joe Leach, grabbing 3-32.

Steve Barnard, the hero of the dramatic fightback win over Chorley in the ECB National Club Championship the previous Sunday, was also to the fore with 2-32.

But then the home side rallied thanks to 72 from Warwickshire’s Australian under-19 star Sam Hain and an unbeaten 65 from skipper Andy Sutton as they closed on 198-7.

“Sam bowled very well at the top of the order with Steve Barnard,” said the captain. “Alex Johnson also came in and bowled well, beating the edge a few times, but he didn’t have a lot of luck.

“We didn’t perhaps have our best day in the field as we dropped a couple of chances but it happens sometimes.

“We were happy to come away with 17 points and would have taken it at the start of the day and it was really a game we dominated from start to finish.”

Shrewsbury are 38 points clear of second placed Brockhampton ahead of Saturday’s home clash with Knowle & Dorridge who sit fourth.

It’s also a big day for Shrewsbury on Sunday as they battle it out with Ombersley, their semi final opponents, Dorridge and West Bromwich Dartmouth at finals day of the Birmingham League’s Twenty20KO at Bromsgrove.

Ed Foster

Foster blasts Kiddi to extend lead

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By Stuart Dunn, @studunn21, at The Shrewsbury Chronicle

ED FOSTER, such a model of consistency down the years, insisted he was thrilled to replace his dad John in the club record books after hitting the highest league score by any Shrewsbury player.

Foster was at his brilliant best as he inspired the London Roaders to a crushing 222 run win in their top of the table clash against Kidderminster in the Birmingham League premier division.

Shrewsbury are now 39 points clear in pole position ahead of Saturday’s trip to Barnt Green.

Foster, an opening bat and former club and county captain just like his dad, is no stranger to weighing in with big scores.

But his efforts in cracking a sparkling 169 to set up an imposing Shrewsbury total of 362-7 was something special even by his high standards.

It eclipsed the previous club record score of 159 achieved by his dad in a Shropshire League match at Shifnal in 1991.

And fittingly Ed’s younger brother, Rob, the current Shrewsbury skipper, was in the middle batting with him when he broke the record.

“It was good fun, a bit surreal really,” said Foster. “It’s not every day you get scores like that, individually and as a team.

“To make over 360 was a brilliant effort and it was a really good win to extend our lead at the top of the table.

“Me and Rob have had it drummed into us since we were young that dad holds the record with 159.

“When I got to 150 Rob was out there batting with me and said ‘you know what’s coming’.

“It was good to get it and quite a lot of people around the ground knew about it so that was nice.”

As well as being a new club record, it was also the highest score racked up by Foster, a man renowned as arguably the leading batsman in the Birmingham League.

“I got 160 when I was playing in Australia once,” he said. “I also scored 155 over here in a league game a couple of years ago but this was comfortably my best.”

Foster helped himself to no fewer than five towering sixes and 18 boundaries with his 169 coming from 133 balls.

He received sound support from brother Rob, who hammered a quickfire 67, and also Joe Leach (45), part of the Worcestershire side beaten by Warwickshire at a sold out New Road in the Friends Life Twenty20 the previous night.

Leach himself is bang in form having cracked 131 for Shrewsbury at Wombourne in the league a week earlier and then 162 for Worcestershire II in their 2nd XI Championship clash against Warwickshire at Ombersley.

There were also runs for Tom Cox (27) and Steve Barnard (20no) as Shrewsbury shone in the sun to accumulate a daunting 362-7 from their 55 overs.

Kidderminster’s much vaunted batting line up were then found wanting as they were dismissed for 140.

Leach (2-27) enjoyed removing his Worcestershire team mate Matt Pardoe, who regularly opens for the Pears, caught and bowled for just two.

And Kidderminster’s other Worcestershire man, Neil Pinner, was caught behind by Anthony Parker off former Shelton paceman Sam Griffiths (2-37) for 19.

Spinner Elliot Green claimed 3-18 and Mike Barnard also played his part with 2-17, with opener Andy Kimberlin (57) the only man to offer any resistance as Kidderminster were well beaten.

“I was really pleased with how well we did because they had two first class cricketers playing for them,” added Ed Foster. “It was a massive game and we’ve put some real daylight between us.

“Everyone really turned it on and contributed to our score and then the bowlers did really well on a pretty flat track to bowl them out for 140.

“It was a really great effort and shows that we have got something special here.”

Steve Barnard

Shrewsbury snatch remarkable National KO victory

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By Stuart Dunn, @studunn21, at The Shrewsbury Chronicle

SHREWSBURY, who just never give up, grabbed an astonishing victory from the jaws of defeat to set up an exciting quarter final tie at home to West Indian Cavaliers in the quarter finals of the ECB National Club Championship.

Missing a host of first team regulars, the players drafted in to the side dug deep as allrounder Steve Barnard delivered a stunning display to seal a dramatic four run win over Northern Premier League Chorley.

It seemed a formality the Lancastrians would progress when, replying to the home side’s 168-8, they were coasting at 145-1 with plenty of time and wickets to play with.

But then Shrewsbury turned the screw, two runs outs in as many balls changing the entire complexion of the tie, and with Barnard and his brother Mike keeping it tight with the ball, Chorley somehow ended short of their target on 164-6.

“It was unbelievable,” admitted delighted captain Rob Foster, one of only four regulars in the team. “They were cruising the game but we just went up a gear in the field really, and Steve’s death bowling along with Mike’s was just outstanding.

“We just gave ourselves the best chance to get a result.

“I didn’t think it was possible at some points in the game until there were four overs to go. We were just outstanding.

“I keep saying to the lads the longer we stay in the game the more chance there is for us.

“The decision to bat first after winning the toss was purely because pressure cricket does funny things to people on days like this, as we saw.

“Chorley should really have won that game but they just imploded through the pressure built by ourselves.”

Steve Barnard, at No 6, cracked an unbeaten 51 to give the hosts a fighting chance as Shrewsbury made 168-8 from their 45 overs. Skipper Foster (38) and Will Parton (29) also contributed.

Chorley, in reply, were sell set thanks to openers David Fisher (54) and Andy Griffiths (43).

Ian Dickinson then added 36 but it was his departure, caught by Steve Leach off Mike Barnard (2-23), which changed the course of the game.

It was the cue for Shrewsbury, roared on by a vocal band of supporters watching from the pavilion balcony, to produce a grandstand finish.

Steve Barnard (1-25), fittingly, bowled the final over and held his nerve, his pace too much for the visiting batsmen to get away.

“Steve was probably the difference in the game,” added Foster. “His death bowling and his knock were superb.

“He’s really stepped up this year and has gone to another level which is really good to see.

“Our team included seven lads who have been in the second team at times this season but they all stepped up. The quality is there throughout for the club and it’s a great feeling to have everyone included and to keep winning.”

Foster’s men are now relishing their last eight tie against Nottingham-based West Indian Cavaliers at London Road on Sunday, August 4 with the visitors able to call on former Notts stars Usman Afzaal and Bilal Shafayat, until recently Shropshire’s pro.

Shrewsbury memorably beat star-studded Cavaliers on their way to becoming national champs in 2011.

Joe Leach

Leach brothers set up Wombourne victory

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By Stuart Dunn, @studunn21, at The Shrewsbury Chronicle

WOMBOURNE felt the full force of a Joe Leach masterclass as he and brother Steve both cracked fine centuries to send Shrewsbury 19 points clear at the top of the Birmingham Cricket League’s premier division.

Allrounder Joe, hoping to become a Worcestershire regular, enhanced his claims with another dazzling display with bat and ball as Shrewsbury romped to a convincing 157 run victory at the top flight’s bottom club.

Leach’s efforts were quickly rewarded as he was handed his Friends Life Twenty20 debut for the Pears the next day as he helped them beat Gloucestershire at New Road.

The runaway win sets Shrewsbury up perfectly for this weekend’s huge double header which sees them face two big games at London Road.

They host second-placed Kidderminster Victoria in the league on Saturday before welcoming Chorley in the last 16 of the ECB National Club Championship 24 hours later.

“Last weekend was probably as good as it gets,” said delighted Shrewsbury captain Rob Foster. “We were very good with the bat and followed it up with the ball.”

Joe hammered a whirlwind 131 and younger brother Steve carried his bat for an unbeaten 108, the siblings putting on 183 for the third wicket.

Skipper Foster also got in on the act with a rapid unbeaten half century, hammering 62 not out from just 30 balls, as Shrewsbury scored freely to rack up an imposing 340-3 from their 55 overs.

It was a stunning response from the London Roaders who were 63-2 at one stage having lost opener Ed Foster for four and Tom Cox for 23.

“Steve anchored the innings which is what we wanted after the last couple of weeks when we’ve lost early wickets,” said captain Foster. “He played very well and batted sensibly.

“That allowed Joe the freedom to come in and bat the way he did. He was outstanding again for us.”

Joe faced 97 balls for his 131, his top score for the club, as he struck five sixes and no fewer than 18 boundaries.

Steve, who also hopes to break through at Worcestershire, compiled his 108 from 151 deliveries, hitting 11 fours and two sixes as he reached three figures for the second time this summer.

Wombourne were then blown away for 183 with ultra consistent spinner Elliot Green taking 4-38 after strong opening spells from Joe Leach (2-23) and Steve Barnard (2-54).

Tom Meek hit a defiant 55 and Worcestershire’s Richard Jones made 31 but the Shrewsbury attack were always in control.

“Having Elliot in the side is great for a captain as he’s always going to take wickets,” said Foster. “Joe and Steve started it off by bowling really well to have them at 31-3.

“It was a very good all round performance.”