LEDBURY played host to Shire Bulls hoping to get back to winning ways in Marches League Division Two.

Shire Bulls won the toss and asked Ledbury to bat and openers Jamie Turner and Paddy Merryman started in a positive manner, adding 37 in only seven overs.

Turner was dismissed for 21, but Jamie Brighton joined Merryman at the crease and soon punished Shire Bulls for dropping a chance he offered before he had scored.

Merryman continued his rich vein of form by reaching a fine 50 and Brighton soon followed him to a half-century.

Although Merryman fell for 62, there was no let-up for Shire Bulls as Luke Ledbury joined Brighton.

Brighton was finally out for 91 and 15-year-old Joshua Evans joined Ledbury in the middle.

After a brief rain delay, Ledbury and Evans knew time was of the essence as skipper Steve Evans was looking to declare in the hope of giving his bowlers enough time to force a victory and beat the weather.

Ledbury took the game to the toiling Shire Bulls attack and he brought up his third 100 in three games in astonishing style, with his second fifty coming off only 16 balls.

He finished on 105 not out, while Evans was unbeaten on 28 in an unbroken partnership of 108 as Ledbury declared on 316-3 off just 41 overs.

Ledbury’s opening bowlers of Mike Arlott and Brighton were fired up and bowled with great hostility.

Brighton soon ripped through the defences of Breeze for a duck to leave Shire Bulls on 12-1, but this was as good as it got as even before the new batsmen arrived at the crease the heavens opened and Ledbury’s chance of victory was washed away.

Meanwhile, the second XI were also frustrated by the rain as they were unable to continue their Marches League Division Three promotion push.

They travelled to Moccas Cricket Club, but the game was abandoned with the hosts in pursuit of Ledbury’s 179-4.

For a full report of the second XI game, turn to page 83.

The first XI are once again at home tomorrow, playing host to Builth Wells, and the players are to meet up at 1.15pm.