Market Drayton had to make do with a winning draw against Lilleshall in their basement battle on Saturday.
Drayton posted 143 all out from 39 overs with Jesse Thompstone making 42 not out, Laurence Sidwell 33 and Nigel Wellings 13.
In reply Drayton couldn’t find a way past the Lilleshall tail-enders as the home side finished on 113-8.
The Drayton bowling attack failed to finish off the tail despite a solid display from all-rounder Thompstone, who took 2-33 off 15 overs, and Wellings who supported him well with 3-40 off 10 overs.
The result means that Drayton stay at the foot of the table and are fast running out of time to string together a run of results to guarantee their survival.
Meanwhile Market Drayton IIs hosted Ludlow IIIs in Shropshire Cricket League Division 5 on a dry, overcast summer’s day.
The visitors won the toss and put Drayton in to bat first. Openers Neil Coxall and Nigel Green were given the task of putting on a decent total which the rest of the team could then build on but unfortunately Ludlow’s bowlers had other ideas and Coxall was dismissed in the fourth over.
With skipper Charles Harrison coming in next to join Green, runs started to flow at a consistent rate until the eleventh over when Harrison was caught in the slips for 22.
Josh Learoyd made 22 and with 121 runs on the board, big-hitting Bruce Harris came in to join Green at the crease.
However, Harris lasted four overs before he was bowled but Green was in fine form before departing for 66, leaving Drayton with 176 on the board.
Departed
In the 40th over George Dees was out for 7 before Turner followed for 23 and Richardson departed an over later with Drayton on 195.
Mitchell Fish and Geert Brakel closed the innings on 204-8.
After lunch, Drayton’s opening bowlers Dorian Richardson (0-19) and Josh Learoyd (2-14) bowled well before Fish, on for Learoyd, made the breakthrough.
Johnny Harrison (2-29) came on and claimed his first wicket in his third over.
With Ludlow on the backfoot, Drayton pressed for the win. Neil Coxall and Charles Harrison took a wicket apiece but Ludlow closed on 143-6.
This Saturday, Market Drayton travel to Bridgnorth hoping to bring back a win.