Bridgnorth CC 1st XI v Fordhouses (Away)
Bridgnorth 1st XI (250-5) beat Fordhouses (150) by 100 runs.
Batting: A. Breakwell 68*, M. Spence 56, P. Thompson 39.
Bowling: A. Breakwell 6-36, M. Spence 3-26.
Bridgnorth 1st XI started their Birmingham League season in fine style, with a comprehensive victory at Fordhouses on Saturday. Asked to bat first on a very difficult wicket, Bridgnorth batted splendidly in the second division match. Following a solid start by Murray Spence and Tom Whitney, a firm foundation was established by Spence and skipper Pete Thompson. After cameos from Matt Turner and Gareth Mumford, Andy Breakwell and Andy Unitt finished the innings in some style, with a whirlwind stand of 59 in just 23 balls. The Bridgnorth innings closed at 250-5, with chief contributors being Andy Breakwell (68*), Murray Spence (56) and Pete Thompson (39). It was an excellent performance from Breakwell, who really turned the clock back with a superbly-paced knock.
Fordhouses received an unwelcome start to their run chase, when Ian Baldwin made full use of the challenging wicket to dismiss the opposition's professional in his first over, well caught by Gareth Mumford. Against some miserly bowling from Andy Leather and Andy Breakwell, Fordhouses were always behind the run rate. The re-introduction of Murray Spence signalled the beginning of the end for Fordhouses, as he and Breakwell demonstrated the virtues of accurate bowling, as the opposition subsided from 120-2 to 150 all out. Breakwell finished with outstanding figures of 6-36, his best figures for many years, and Spence with 3-26. An excellent team performance was rewarded with maximum points - an ideal start to the season.
All contributed but none more so than Andy Breakwell, who excelled throughout, giving a performance reminiscent of his earlier days, when he was a Midlands Cricket Club Conference Player of the Season.
Bridgnorth CC 2nd XI v Shifnal (Home)
Bridgnorth 2nd XI (238-9) had a losing draw against Shifnal (251-2)
Batting: L. Evans 95, G. Edwards 37, N. Johnson 33.
Bowling: T. Weaver 1-46, S. Pitt 1-60.
Bridgnorth 2nd XI opened up the new league season with an exciting losing draw at home to a strong Shifnal 2nds side. On winning the toss Bridgnorth chose to field first, a decision which brought instant reward with Tom Weaver (1-46) inducing an edge from ex-county man Ed Home for 0, giving wicketkeeper Rob Hughes his first dismissal on his 2nd XI league debut. Both Weaver and Simon Pitt (1-60) bowled excellent opening spells in which both were lucky not to be rewarded, putting Shifnal further behind the clock at 76-2 off 25 overs at drinks. The next 25 overs belonged to Shifnal, though, as another former county player, Tony Parton (118*), together with Tom Collins (90*), posted a total of 251-2 off the allotted 50 overs.
Bridgnorth's reply got off to a decent start as openers Andy Carson (20) and Glenn Edwards (37) put on 45 for the first wicket, and with Matt Martin (23) also getting a start the chase was set up. Needing six an over for the last 20 overs the explosive Lez Evans set about the Shifnal attack in devastating fashion as he and Neil Johnson (33) took the home side close. The dismissal of both batsmen, with Evans going just short of his century on 95, lifted the visitor's spirits and in the gathering gloom the home side could not quite muster enough runs to get over the finishing line, ending on 238-9.
Bridgnorth CC 3rd XI v M.E.B. (Home)
Bridgnorth 3rd XI (222-8) had a winning draw against M.E.B. (208-7)
Batting: L. Brown 83, C. Goodwin-Tindall 33.
Bowling: L. Brown 3-47, G. Lewis 2-41, D. James 2-62.
Bridgnorth 3rd XI continued their solid start to the season with a winning draw at home to M. E. B. on Sunday. Batting first, Bridgnorth's innings was based around a fine knock of 83 from Liam Brown, who received good support from the other batsmen, notably Conor Goodwin-Tindall (33). There were contributions throughout as the home side finished on 222-8.
In reply M. E. B. started strongly and looked on course for a win against the young Bridgnorth attack. Tight bowling spells from Liam Brown (3-47), Greg Lewis (2-41) and promising legspinner Devon James (2-62) brought the home side back into the game as they showed great maturity in the final few overs, restricting M. E. B. to just 208-7 and giving Bridgnorth a winning draw.
