Newtown 172-8 beat Frankton 116 all out by 56 runs

NEWTOWN opened their account for the season with a 56 run victory at home to Frankton in the Henshalls Shropshire Premier League

Town did not enjoy the best of starts with a poor opening spell seeing openers Tom Goodman (13) and Aaron Knight (13) depart cheaply before Ryan Davies was run out for six.

It was left to Tom Foulkes and Jack Morris to kickstart the home innings.

The duo shared a fruitful fourth wicket partnership to finally work the scoreboard before Morris was bowled by Mark Lammie for 41.

Lammie (4-20) made light work of the rest of the middle order but Foulkes (60no) dug in alongside Dave Anthony (5no) in an unbroken ninth wicket stand to guide Newtown to 172-8 to defend.

Anthony (4-42) tore through the Frankton top order in reply with Ian Whitticase (3) and Scott Hale (10) both snared LBW while Mark Lammie fell for nine.

Jack Morris played a key role for Town, catching Tom Wilkie off Ally Laird (1-19) for 14 before trapping Jason Brookes LBW for a battling 26.

It was left to summer signing Bryant Galpin (4-18) to take centre stage by finishing off Frankton with a superb 12 overs which also included five maidens.

Jordan Parry offered resistance before his departure, caught by Ryan Davies off Galpin for a top scoring 29 as Frankton’s collapse for 116 was completed in the 40th over.