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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 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.

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.”

Ryan Bishop

Salop through to ECB National Club Championship Final

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Shrewsbury beat West Indian Cavaliers by 8 wickets on Sunday 21st August at London Road.

Shrewsbury now look forward to the National Final on 17 September 2011 at the County Ground, Nottingham Road, Derby, to play Cambridge Granta Cricket Club of the East Anglian Premier League.

Congratulations to Ed Foster and the Team.

Match Report from ECB Website:

Shrewsbury beat West Indian Cavaliers and Cambridge Granta beat 2010 runners up Ealing to go forward to the final of the ECB National Club Championship.

Shrewsbury hosted West Indian Cavaliers and the visitors opted to bat after winning the toss. This decision looked to be justified as openers Aaron Thomas and Aqib Afzaal put on 113 for the first wicket before Afzaal was removed by the bowling of Elliot Green.

Afzaal’s brother Usman joined Thomas but after he was out off the bowling of Rob Foster, West Indian Cavaliers lost three further wickets, including Thomas who was run out on 80, to find themselves at 151 for five.

Rawait Khan and Alex Tudor moved the score onto 185, but the introduction of Alex Blofield into the Shrewsbury bowling attack blew the visitors tail away, taking 4-10 from three overs and bowling West Indian Cavaliers out for 191 from 43.2 overs.

The hosts’ reply saw captain Ed Foster dismissed early for 12 off the bowling of Tudor, but a composed partnership of 115 between Ryan Bishop and Steve Leach took Shrewsbury to 152. Leach was caught behind off the bowling of Saqlain Mushtaq for 53 but Joe Leach joined Bishop to guide the hosts home with seven overs to spare, Bishop finishing on an unbeaten 85.