Oswestry Cricket Club got their Birmingham Premier League season off to a flying start at the Stonehouse Oval on Saturday with an emphatic 100-run victory over Worcestershire rivals Ombersley.

Dean Suter’s young side – despite being without the services of Sri Lankan overseas professional, Larry Samarakoon, whose arrival in the UK has been delayed by a week – were full value for their impressive win.

Put into bat, the Morda Road men treated the large Easter crowd to a run-fest, rattling up 345-7 off their allotted 50 overs.

County player Warrick Fynn carried on from where he left off last season, compiling a fine 74 in even time.

But it was youngsters Xavier Clarke (73) and Josh Coleridge (93) who stole the show in a scintillating fifth-wicket partnership of 135.

Clarke showed great maturity, playing the perfect foil for Coleridge, whose blistering knock included 10 fours and five sixes off just 68 balls.

There were also useful contributions from Roman Walker (17) and Ellesmere College pupil Connor Davies (25).

Former Shropshire player Duncan Catterall (2-36) was the pick of the Ombersley attack. Ed Bayliss, Ollie Uffinder, and Harry Wilde also shared two wickets apiece. The visitors, after losing opener Ollie Steele without scoring to Oswestry’s new quickie, Ben Roberts, made a fist of matters, but the introduction of the home spinners quickly stemmed the tide of runs with Warrick Fynn helping to turn the screw.

Minor Counties player Liam Gwynne was bowled by young off-spinner Sam Davies for 41, before Connor Davies trapped Worcestershire danger man Josh Dell lbw for an attractive 56.

It was then left to Oswestry’s secret weapon, Joe Carrasco, to secure maximum points.

His fast-developing off-spin was rewarded with 3-39, including the wickets of Caterall (39) and Bayliss (41), the latter falling to a brilliant caught and bowled. Ombersley finally finished on 245-8.

Connor Davies returned final figures of 2-67, impressing with both bat and ball on his debut.

Skipper Suter said: “Since coming together in February, the boys have done everything I have asked of them, and the team can be really proud of their performance. It was important we hit the ground running.

“We are not going to win every game, but there is a lot positivity within the side and we have some talented players.”