Ed’s half century in Over 50s 2nd XI win
A half century from debutant Ed Keenan helped Shropshire Over 50s 2nd XI to victory when they travelled to Connah’s Quay to take on North Wales in a friendly ahead of their 2024 campaign.
Skipper Richard Barge won the toss and asked the hosts to bat first.
Mark Jones (4-30) and Phil Snape (3-17) did the damage for the visitors as they bowled North Wales out for 144 with more than three overs to spare of their allocated 45.
Keenan then hit 52 from 57 balls, and was backed up by Dave Powell (27) and Kurt Finnegan (22 not out) as Shropshire reached their victory target in the 35th over four wickets down.
Shropshire Over 60s travelled to Leicestershire for their second match and took first knock on a very firm pitch at the picturesque Langtons ground.
Skipper Martin Chambers and the John Foster started well with a good first over but thereafter some challenging bowling kept the lid on the run rate.
An opening partnership of 61 was broken in the 15th over when the Foster was caught in the gulley for 30. The skipper hit 26, Peter Hayes 33 and Lol Woodhall chipped in with 20 towards the end of the innings as Shropshire were bowled out for 154.
Hayes then struck early, but Shropshire then found wickets hard to come by after that and the hosts sealed victory for the loss of just two wickets in the 31st over.
The Over 60s 2nd XI hosted their Staffordshire counterparts at Wroxeter and were asked to bat first after losing the toss.
Ed Nicholas hit 28 and Bluey Thomas 39 as Shropshire finished their 45 overs on 179-9 with a number of other batters reaching double figures but failing to go on to make a big score.
In the reply, Dave Shaw claimed two wickets and Dave Tunks bowled a miserly spell of nine overs for ten runs without gaining any reward as Staffordshire were reduced to 58-2.
But they only picked up one more wicket through Richard Chapman as the visitors claimed the victory with 19 balls to spare.