Welshpool 129 all out lost to Wroxeter Grove 131-7 by three wickets

A BRAVE bowling display was not enough to spare Welshpool from a battling three wicket defeat at home to Wroxeter.

Pool lost their opening pair cheaply with both Paul Chapman (2) and Nick Davies (4) despatched to the pavilion by the outstanding Simon Jones.

Patrick Davies (16) was joined by a top scoring Dan Chodecki (30) in a 64 run third wicket stand until both departed in quick succession to leave Pool 76-4.

Dan Harris (3-26) and Jones (4-21) made light work of the remaining middle and tail end with only home captain Russell Cadwallader offering defiance before being run out by Richard Evason for 27 to leave Pool left to defend just129.

Welshpool celebrated regular wickets in reply with Matt McWhinnie leading the attack with a tight bowling display.

McWhinnie bowled opener Adie Eley for three after Joe Monk celebrated a breakthrough with the wicket of Rob Davies (3).

Evason was caught by John Gough off Rob Anderson for 10 before the Pool bowler completed his 2-26 with the wicket of Ed Davies for a patient 15.

When Patrick Davies trapped Phil Patemen LBW for 10 the visitors were on the ropes at 55-5.

However Wroxeter steadied the ship with a 55 run sixth wicket stand changing the fate of the game.

Charlie Haylett was joined by Ross Whitehouse in a key stand before falling to Monk (2-32) for 28.

McWhinnie completed his own 2-37 with the wicket of Whitehouse (23) to leave Wroxeter just short of their target at 120-7.

It was left to Simon Jones (11no) and Harris (5no) to guide Wroxeter to 131-7 and victory with an unbroken seventh wicket stand in the 44th over.