Bridgnorth CC 1st XI v Lichfield (Home)
Bridgnorth 1st XI (77) lost to Lichfield (95) by 18 runs
Batting: M. MacPherson-Lees 22.
Bowling: J. Whitney 2-19, S. Whitney 4-4.
Bridgnorth have found Lichfield a bogey side in 2009 as, having lost the reverse fixture to the Staffordshire outfit, the promotion chasers went down by 18 runs at Cricket Meadow.
Despite the best efforts at covering the wicket intended for the game, it resembled a mudbath and a new strip had to be found, with the resulting surface always likely to favour ball over bat. With this in mind Bridgnorth, upon winning the toss, had no hesitation in asking the visitors to bat.
Early wickets for Jono Whitney (2-19) saw them struggling at 43-4, and Sam Whitney's HQ Sports Bar Man of the Match display of 4-4 saw them all out for 95. In between there was some indifferent bowling and fielding that allowed Lichfield off the hook, and despite their low total they felt they were very much still in the game - a feeling that was about to ring true.
Bridgnorth's reply crumbled to 39-5 before the tea interval, and only skipper Mark MacPherson-Lees hinted at any permanence as wickets continued to fall to indecisive strokes. In the end the league leaders were bowled out for 77, meaning Whitchurch leapfrog them in the race to the Division Three title.
Bridgnorth CC 2nd XI v Bromsgrove (Away)
Bridgnorth 2nd XI (61-3) beat Bromsgrove (60) by 7 wickets
Batting: A. Whitby 22*, G. Edwards 15*.
Bowling: AJ. Smith 4-13, L. Brown 4-25.
Bridgnorth 2nd XI finally recorded their first mark in the victory column for 2009 this weekend after their win over Bromsgrove.
Bowling first upon winning the toss they hustled their hosts out for 60 on a seamer-friendly surface, with AJ Smith and Liam Brown leading the attack. Ben Taylor also had a good game behind the timbers on his 2nd XI debut.
In reply, the Cricket Meadow men lost three quick wickets before Al Whitby and Glenn Edwards secured an ultimately comfortable seven-wicket victory.
Bridgnorth CC 3rd XI v Ludlow (Home)
Bridgnorth 3rd XI (182-8) had a losing draw against Ludlow (239-4)
Batting: H. Davies 67, D. Taylor 32, C. Wallis 23*.
Bowling:
Credit must go to the groundstaff at Chelmarsh CC for getting the pitch ready to play on following the heavy rain of previous days, as Bridgnorth asked Ludlow to have first use of the wicket. After recovering from the early loss of two wickets, they posted a challenging 239-4.
In reply Bridgnorth settled for a draw, reaching 182-8 with Henry Davies top-scoring and useful contributions from Dan Taylor and Cam Wallis.
