Bridgnorth CC 1st XI v Moseley Ashfield (Home)
Bridgnorth 1st XI (210) beat Moseley (155) by 55 runs
Batting: A. Carson 49, M. MacPherson-Lees 35, G. Mumford 30.
Bowling: E. Lewis 4-39, T. Weaver 3-33.
Top-of-the-table Bridgnorth took another vital step towards promotion from the Birmingham Cricket League third division with a comfortable 55-run home victory over Moseley Ashfield on Saturday.
Batting first the Cricket Meadow men got a solid platform, thanks to Andrew Carson who built partnerships with Matt Martin (14), Dave Exall (14) and Jono Whitney (15) to move their side to 133-4 against some accurate seam bowling by Amer Hussain (4-53). Skipper Mark MacPherson-Lees and Gaz Mumford kept the momentum going, but it needed a wag of the tail to post 210 all out.
In reply Tom Weaver continued his wicket taking form with 3-33, and youngster Ed Lewis again confirmed his promise at this level, taking away the top and middle order. The visitors never recovered, succumbing to 155 all out to give Bridgnorth maximum points.
With title rivals Whitchurch beating third-placed Olton, there is now a 50-point cushion in the promotion race and an 11-point gap in the title race.
"No-one should think it's done and dusted yet," said Bridgnorth skipper Mark MacPherson-Lees. "The gap is opening up between the top two and the pack, but there is still plenty of points to play for. As long as we keep performing as a team we are in with a shout," he added.
This weekend may give a clearer picture, as Bridgnorth are in double-header action, with away games against fourth-placed Coleshill, and Milford Hall, who are currently battling the threat of relegation.
Bridgnorth CC 2nd XI v Shrewsbury (Away)
Bridgnorth 2nd XI (183-8) beat Shrewsbury (184-3) by 7 wickets
Batting: T. Weston 44*, D. Taylor 34, C. Goodwin-Tindall 28, G. Edwards 21, A. Unitt 18.
Bowling: S. Caine 2-43, J. Shaw 1-61.
Bridgnorth 2nd XI appear to be set for relegation from the first division of the BPDCL after defeat at promotion-chasing Shrewsbury on Saturday.
Shrewsbury - fielding a side packed with first team experience - won the toss and put Bridgnorth into bat first, a decision that looked questionable as Conor Goodwin-Tindall and Glenn Edwards took the attack to the home bowlers. However, Edwards was forced to retire hurt following a repeat of a knee injury that prevented him from playing early in the season.
Andrew Unitt played an all too brief innings to put pressure on the young middle order. Dan Taylor batted above his years, and Tom Weston, on the back of a maiden century for Shropshire U15s against Wiltshire at Taunton, held the innings together to help Bridgnorth post 183-8.
Shrewsbury got off to a flier in reply, racing to 74 off 10 overs, before spin twins Steve Caine and Jimmy Shaw put the brakes on. It took the home side until the penultimate over to score the winning runs.
Bridgnorth CC 3rd XI v Market Drayton (Home)
Bridgnorth 3rd XI (151) beat Market Drayton (101) by 50 runs
Batting: C. Wallis 38*, C. Thornton 36, A. Mooney 29.
Bowling: C. Thornton 4-35, C. Wallis 3-21, L. Brown 2-20.
A youthful Bridgnorth 3rd XI welcomed Market Drayton II to the Oval and rose to the challenge, claiming the points with a fifty run victory.
The youngsters produced some entertaining cricket in setting their visitors 152 to win. Charles Thornton, Andrew Mooney and Cameron Wallis were the men in the runs.
In reply Drayton were soon in trouble with Liam Brown claiming early successes, before Thornton and Wallis completed excellent performances as the visitors were dismissed for 101.
