Ledbury Cricket Club were surely denied Marches League division two victory last Saturday at home against Shobdon thanks once again to the inclement weather.

LEDBURY 1STS XI v SHOBDON 1ST XI

The visiting captain won the toss and asked Ledbury to bat. This soon proved to be a mistake as Ledbury captain David Taylor and Jamie Bullock were out of the traps like greyhounds. After only six overs they had 41 on the board. Taylor fell in the next over for a rapid 20.

Dan Baker provided the tea money knock of the day going for only one, but this brought Maurice Embrey to the wicket and he soon began to carry on from where he had left off the previous Saturday. Bullock and Embrey now began to crash the Shobdon bowling to all parts of the ground and the visitors had no answer to the onslaught. After only 20 overs the score had raced on to 126.

Jamie Bullock bought up his maiden 50 for the first team soon after and proceeded to go in search of three figures but unfortunately he fell for a superb 72 (11 fours, 1 six). Embrey was joined by Mat Slocombe and with Slocombe allowing Embrey most of the strike still the score raced along.

Embrey too went past 50 and even with the dismissal of Slocombe for a well compiled 29, there was not respite for the tiring Shobdon attack as Martin Punt came in and began to time the ball sweetly. The 20 came up in the 33rd over as Maurice Embrey scorched towards his century. Punt was out for 25 in the 41st over but Embrey's 100 came up the next over.

However Embrey was out the very next over for 100 exactly (14 fours, 2 sixes). Ledbury finished their 45 overs with the commanding total of 278 for 7, undoubtedly one of their finest batting performance for some time.

A dispirited Shobdon team began their reply after tea and soon lost an early wicket when Mark Pritchett induced M Teale to edge on straight into the hands of Stu Evans at second slip. This though was the last of the action as the rain came and ruined Ledbury's chance of victory.

Tomorrow (Saturday) Ledbury take the long journey to Builth Wells in Wales.