Builth Wells are the 2024 GB Liners Marches League first division Champions with a game to spare, writes Paul Worts.

The Bulls clinched the title with a nail biting one wicket victory at Kington on Saturday with inspirational captain, Dylan McPhee again leading by example with a superb unbeaten 61.

Builth put Kington in to bat and made early inroads with Tumelo Yeki (3-24) and Paul Greenway (1-10) seeing the hosts slump to 30 for 4. Harri Phillips (2-30) and McPhee (1-22) took further wickets and with Kington on 64 for 7 it looked as if it would be an early finish. But Bryan Kirkham (36) joined Derek Morgan (51 not out) and they put on 85 for the eighth wicket to guide Kington to 165 for 8 from their 45 overs.

Builth found runs hard to come by in reply with Duncan Morgan (0-17) and Kirkham (0-18), from their nine overs each, difficult to get away. Openers, Richard Galton and Sujeewa Senarathne put on 37 before Senarathne (26) fell to Jacob Houchin who also got rid of Yeki (8) and Aled Powell (12). McPhee came out to partner Galton who was caught for 33 leaving Builth on 102 for 4. McPhee was putting together an innings but no-one could stay with him as Houchin (5-31) and Gary Irwin (3-42) dismissed Jonny Corzon (4), Martin Hurst (1), Andrew Claridge (8), Harri Phillips (0) and Paul Greenway (0). When last man, Mike Williams, who has not played much cricket this time, walked out, Builth still needed 24 to win but he hung around to make 4 not out from thirteen deliveries as McPhee farmed the strike. The Builth captain hit four fours and four sixes in his 61 from 45 balls and fittingly hitting a six to win the game and the title with just two balls remaining.

In Divison Two, Hay closed in on the title with a convincing nine-wicket victory over Knighton-on-Teme who were all out for just 57. Huw Griffiths rolled back the years with 5-10 in eight overs and Gabriel Moore (3-13) and Gus Price (2-2) finished Knighton off. Hay reached the total in the tenth over with Gareth Grant making 26 while Tim Masters was 18 not out.  

Elsewhere in Division Two, Presteigne fell to an eight-wicket defeat at home against Canon Frome 2nds.