Foster hope Jones can continue good form

By Stuart Dunn at the Shrewsbury Chronicle

SKIPPER Rob Foster has high hopes that in-form quickie Dewi Jones can shine again with the ball as Shrewsbury target back-to-back Birmingham Cricket League wins at Kidderminster on Saturday.

Teenager Jones grabbed four wickets for the London Roaders in last weekend’s victory over Kenilworth Wardens, a result which propelled Shrewsbury from bottom spot up to seventh place in the premier division table.

He’s now taken 14 wickets in his last three matches having grabbed five-wicket hauls a few days earlier both for Glamorgan’s 2nd XI against Somerset and also for the Wales Minor Counties side at Wiltshire in the Unicorns Trophy.

Foster said the contribution of Jones, a close season recruit from Wombourne, was key to the victory over Kenilworth and he now hopes there is plenty more to come from the 18-year-old Welshman.

Foster said: “It’s been a difficult start to the season for everyone but I thought Dewi bowled very well against Kenilworth.

“It was great to see him knock over their top four and you could tell he was bowling with confidence having taken a few wickets for Glamorgan seconds and for Wales.

“He’s a quick bowler and he’s only 18 so he’s still filling out, still developing.”

Foster felt his side were still not at their best last weekend but insisted it was a vital victory after Shrewsbury were restricted to just 116.

“We need to string a few wins together now,” he said. “We’ve got Kidderminster next and that’s always a tough game. It could be a case that they’re missing Matt Pardoe to Worcestershire and we’re without Joe Leach for the same reasons unless Worcester release him.”

Shrewsbury are again without the unavailable Steve Barnard and Alex Blofield while England under-19 star Ed Barnard misses out through injury.

Shrewsbury are also in action on Sunday when they host Attock in the first round of the National Twenty20 (2pm).

Foster added: “We got to the last 16 last year and it’s a good competition that we would like to do well in. It’s always good fun playing Twenty20 cricket and the final in the last few years has been held at The Oval and been shown live on TV.”

SHREWSBURY (v Kidderminster): E Foster, S Leach, T Cox, R Foster, P Butler, A Parker, J Anders, D Jones, E Green, C Morris, S Griffiths.