Wellington in early promotion bid

Chris Shepherd and Mark Downes hit 37 each to take Wellington up to third in the Birmingham League First Division.

Wellington (153-5) beat Smethwick's 150-6 as well as the weather to take maximum points, and slip in behind Shifnal in the early promotion running.

Shifnal had reached 40-2 when their match with Halesowen (173-6) was halted by the rain.

Shrewsbury's Premier Division game with Wolverhampton failed to start, leaving them bottom of the table.

In Division Two, Steve Taylor (58) and Hitshu Bachani (41) were the backbone of 223 from St George's. Home side Aston Manor were on 101-4 when the rain brought an end to proceedings.

In Division Three, Peter Thompson and Mark MacPherson-Lees were unbeaten on 85 and 41 respectively as Bridgnorth posted the league's highest score of the day - 243-5 against Fordhouses, who finished on 137-3.

Newport eked out their first win of the season, against Studley. Newport were dismissed for 104 - but they stuck to their task and dismissed the visitors for 95, with Jonathan Prince and Nick Watkins sharing eight of the wickets.

Maisam Hasnain (98), Richard Oliver (56 not out) and Ian Gregory (42) saw Whitchurch to 227 for three, against Milford Hall, who were restricted to 152-7 in reply, Amjaad Alikhan taking 4 for 42.

In the Shropshire Premier League, Oswestry pulled ahead of Quatt at the top of the table.

Oswestry (118) took the maximum 21 points, beating Welshpool (78) in a low-scoring affair, while Quatt slipped up against Allscott.

Allscott, promoted last season, made 179-9 (Andy Withington 33, Steve Powell 32), with Quatt's Craig Jones taking 5-53. In reply, the villagers were dismissed for 116, Adam Evans top-scoring on 34, with Allscott's chief wicket-taker Ian pollard taking six for just 14 runs.

Mal Serplet (63) and Phil Caudle (54) helped Reman's rattle up 191-5 against Broseley, who could only muster 62 in reply. Chris Speake took three wickets for only six runs.

Chris Lewis (40) and Kuldeep Diwan (34) led the way as Much Wenlock totalled 201-8 against Ludlow who, like Broseley, managed just 62 in reply. Diwan took four wickets for just a single run.

Shelton bowlers Andy Harrison and Andy Wigginton took four wickets apiece as Bomere Heath made 183-9 (Rob Dean 41, Shivraj Singh 39), but the Shrewsbury side held on for a draw at 95-5.

Wem (149-9) beat Newtown (80), while the rain curtailed things for Madeley (161 - Andy Pugh 43) against Albrighton (80-5).