Bridgnorth CC 1st XI v Coleshill (Away)
Bridgnorth 1st XI (195-8) had a losing draw with Coleshill (212-8)
Batting: P. Thompson 68*, P. Dogra 63, C. Goodwin-Tindall 28.
Bowling: S. Whitney 3-55, P. Dogra 2-, A. Leather 2-.
Bridgnorth 1st XI gave a mixed performance away on Saturday against a Coleshill outfit that they should have beaten, but in the end had to settle for a draw.
Bridgnorth captain Mark MacPherson-Lees won the toss and elected to field. The bowlers made a good start and were able to restrict the Coleshill scoring rate in the early overs with AJ Smith bowling well, using the conditions to his advantage. However, it wasn't until the introduction of first-change bowler Andy Leather that the initial breakthrough was created, quickly followed by a second from Leather, putting Bridgnorth in a strong position.
Unfortunately, a mixture of poor short-pitched bowling and patient batting from Coleshill's overseas professional saw the home side begin to build towards a large first-innings total. The surge was soon halted, though, by good, consistent bowling from young legspinner Sam Whitney (3-55) and an impressive display of death bowling from new club professional Paras Dogra, who picked up two wickets. The hosts finished on 212-8 off their allotted 55 overs.
In reply, Bridgnorth's batsmen started poorly as both openers were dismissed cheaply. This brought Dogra to the crease, who showed his class with some fine strokes to reach his maiden half-century for the club. He was joined by Pete Thompson, but a short rain break interrupted play just as they began to dominate. The break meant the away side lost 4 of their overs, changing the required target to 197 for a winning draw and 213 for an outright win.
Knowing what they had to do, the men returned to the crease and continued to apply the pressure, until Dogra holed out on the boundary for 63. Three more quick wickets followed, which brought 16-year-old debutant Conor Goodwin-Tindall out to the middle to the join Thompson. The pair then set about building a quick 54-run partnership, taking Bridgnorth tantalisingly close to the winning draw score. However, the visitors finally finished on 195-8 off 51 overs with Goodwin-Tindall making 28 and Thompson left unbeaten on 68 not out after a well-timed innings with some fine strokeplay.
Bridgnorth will have to be more clinical next weekend as they entertain fellow strugglers Oswestry.
Bridgnorth CC 2nd XI v Old Elizabethans (Home)
Bridgnorth 2nd XI (179) had a winning draw with Old Elizabethans (140-9)
Batting: A. O'Connor 54, G. Edwards 46, A. Breakwell 35, M. Martin 22.
Bowling: S. Caine 5-54, A. Breakwell 1-21.
Bridgnorth 2nd XI bounced back from last week's defeat to take the lion's share of the points with a tough winning draw at home to Worcestershire-based outfit Old Elizabethans.
Stand-in captain Glenn Edwards won the toss and elected to bat first, a decision vindicated as Edwards (46) and the ever-improving Andy O'Connor (54) built a 103-run opening partnership. Matt Martin (22) kept the scoreboard ticking over but the rest of the batting failed to capitalise on the good start as the home side collapsed to 179 all out off the last ball of the innings. Of the other batsmen, only Andy Breakwell (35) reached double-figures in his last game for the club before emigrating to Australia.
Old Elizabethans started their reply in steady fashion by laying the platform for the chase to reach 63-2. However, the Bridgnorth bowlers and fielders started to turn the screw and the pressure told on the visitors as they started to lose wickets. Steve Caine (5-54) once again led the way but for the second time this year the hosts couldn't find the knock-out punch as Old Elizabethans clung on to finish on 140-9. Andy Breakwell (1-21) couldn't quite write the final line in a glittering 25-year Bridgnorth career as he induced an edge off the final ball of the match only for it to agonisingly drop into a gap.
Bridgnorth CC 3rd XI v Ludlow (Home)
Bridgnorth 3rd XI (208-8) beat Ludlow (55) by 153 runs
Batting: A. Mooney 48, M. Weston 22, L. Brown 15, K. Osborne 23, F. Broad 21, E. Pottinger 21, J. Jones 21.
Bowling: F. Broad 4-14, K. Osborne 3-16, L. Brown 1-7, J. Jones 1-13.
A jubilant Bridgnorth 3rd XI annihilated Ludlow 3rd XI at home by 153 runs to record their first win of the 2008 season.
Bridgnorth, who lost the toss and were asked to bat, started solidly with a Mark Weston making a patient 22 and skipper Liam Brown making 15. After the first wicket fell, the innings continued well with a great knock from Andy Mooney (48) who top-scored for the home side. As the top order had laid the foundations the later batsmen were able to play their shots, and Bridgnorth eventually reached an excellent first-innings score of 208-8 off 45 overs. Keiron Osborne (23), Freddie Broad (21), El Pottinger (21) and Josh Jones (21) all came to the party, with Jones smashing two sixes in his first three balls.
After tea the Bridgnorth bowlers blew away the Ludlow batting line-up, with openers Brown (1-7) and Osborne (3-16) inflicting the early damage, and Broad (4-14) and Jones (1-13) finishing off the job for the home side. All the bowlers were well supported in the field with good takes by Ben Taylor and Osborne, but the pick was a flying catch from Pete Oliver, as the visitors crumbled to 55 all out.
Bridgnorth CC Sunday 1st XI v Wednesbury (Home)
Bridgnorth 1st XI (244-2) lost to Wednesbury (249-5) by 5 wickets
Batting: A. Unitt 114*, A. Carson 94*.
Bowling: S. Whitney 2-41, M. Martin 2-44.
Bridgnorth Sunday 1st XI lost a highly entertaining President's Day fixture against Wednesbury 1st XI by 5 wickets.
The home side chose to bat first on a very good wicket but were soon struggling on 17-2. This brought together opener Andy Carson and Andy Unitt who both played a vast array of shots as they added a blistering unbroken stand of 227 for the third wicket, treating a decent sized crowd to an exhibition of quality batting skills. Unitt reached his hundred in the final over of the innings and finished on 114 not out, but Carson was left just short of an elusive maiden club century on 94 not out, as Bridgnorth posted an excellent total of 244-2 off 40 overs.
The Wednesbury team came out firing and showed great spirit in chasing the total. An average display by Bridgnorth with the ball and in the field cost the home side dear as the visitors reached their target with a six off the first ball of the final over. For Bridgnorth Sam Whitney (2-41) and Matt Martin (2-44) were the most successful, with Dan Taylor also picking up a wicket.
