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2011 Season
Week 13 - Saturday 9th & Sunday 10th July
1st XI v Water Orton (Home) - Won by 5 wickets
Water Orton visited the Crown Meadow on Saturday and were asked to bat first on losing the toss. They made steady early progress as runs proved hard to come by against the new ball but equally wickets were at a premium.
Again the introduction of leg spinner Sam Whitney changed the course of the game as he claimed 5-48 ripping out the middle order as they looked to kick on from their solid platform, meaning they were forced to settle for 177-8 from their 55 overs.
Earlier brother Jono had produced a miserly new ball spell to claim 1-39 from 17 overs before starring again with the bat in the hosts reply. Dave Exall gave a solid start at the top of the order with Ryan Lockley who continues his rich vein of form with a skilfully crafted 79.
Whitney then took control of the innings with an unbeaten 55 to steer his side home with five wickets in hand and nine overs to spare.
“It’s coming out well for Sam and the fielders backed him today”, a happy Mark Macpherson-Lees said after the game, adding “Ryan batted really well against a good new ball attack while Jono again proved his value as an all-rounder”.
2nd XI v Water Orton (Away) - Winning Draw
The second team visited Warwickshire outfit Water Orton and batted first on losing the toss. They lost form player Andrew Carson early before Nick Gray and Alex Whitby put the visitors in the driving seat with positive stroke play.
A middle order collapse of its own making then looked to see Bridgnorth struggling to make a challenging target but Conor Goodwin-Tindall produced an innings of real maturity with the tail as he remained unbeaten on 56 to steer his team to 212-8 at the close.
The home side saw off the new ball and then looked to make a real fist of the chase before the pace off the ball paid dividends again.
Fourteen year old debutant Jake Harvey and veterans Steve Caine and Andy Leather turned the game around as their accuracy built the pressure on the run chase. The host’s hung on for a draw at 183-9 but the failure to claim the last wicket cost nine points that would have seen Bridgnorth sit on top of Reserve Division 1 at the halfway point of the season.
Skipper Rob Hughes pointed to fielding slip ups as a contribution to not claiming the win. “A couple of spilled catches have cost us dearly today but we would settle for being where we are at halfway. Conor has batted us back into the game after some poor shots by others and Steve continues to roll back the years and has bowled really well today.
"Jake has put in a good display with a catch and a run out to add to his wickets but now realises the size of the gap between third team batsmen and those at this level.”
3rd XI v Acton Reynald (Away) - Losing Draw
A much changed third team travelled to Acton Reynald as availability issues hit again and opted to bowl first on winning the toss. Their host’s then made steady if unspectacular progress against the opening attack.
Spinners Harry Martin and debutant Ben Barclay then got amongst the wickets helping peg the host’s final total to 168-5 with veteran Rob Jones claiming the other wicket to fall.
Andy Mooney then anchored the reply with Ian Gough, and at 99-1 the visitors were in a comfortable position. A middle-order collapse then ensued before skipper Pete Oliver got his side to within eight runs of victory with some lusty hitting.
After his departure, perishing to another attempt to clear the ropes in the final over, the visitors opted for the draw points on 160-8.
After the game Oliver expressed his frustration at not having key batsmen available with his side pushing for honours. “Had we had our normal top order line-up we would have chased them down”, he said, “but that said it gives others a chance and young Ben Barclay got his chance today and bowled well on a debut.
“Hopefully players are about for next week’s trip to Guilsfield (who sit in third place) because it would be a shame if we were to fall away now.”
