MONTGOMERY climbed to second in Henshalls League Two with a commanding 74 run win at Shifnal IVs.

The Welsh side suffered an indifferent opening as Matthew Jones (1) and Rob Bennett (0) fell cheaply to Ben Humphreys (2-37) while Andrew Barker was caugby by Tom Gough off Joshua Cooper-Butters (1-43).

However a match defining middle order century from Ieuan Griffiths (115no) with support from Aaron Ruff-Cock got Monty back on track before the latter was caught by Jonathan Meek off Vivian John (1-53) for 77.

Charlie Clinton (1) and Tom Davies (2) fell cheaply before Sam Williams (16no) joined Griffiths in an unbroken seventh wicket stand to steer Montgomery to an imposing 253-6 to defend.

Tom Hughes (3-33) led Monty’s attack in reply before Tom Gough arrested the collapse and revived the middle order.

Williams (1-27) celebrated the fall of Meek (14) before Ruff-Cock (2-35) struck with Dan Aston caught by Griffiths for 30.

Ed Bennett (1-37) snared Callum Stacey (2) before Tim Davies (1-19) maintained pressure with Tom Maundrell caught by Griffiths for 21.

Gough (70no) was left to be joined by Cooper-Butters (19no) in an unbroken ninth wicket stand to steer Shifnal to 179-8 but not enough to deny Montgomery a crucial win.