In 2019, Bridgnorth were in an unfortunate losing habit, and after losing five in a row, found themselves in tenth place in Birmingham League Division Two. Seven wins later, the habit had changed. It was a similar story the previous year, as another winning streak saw a late promotion push after a mixed first half.

At the start of July, Bridgnorth were in eleventh place. Losing was again the unfortunate habit; a spark was needed, and character was necessary. A battling effort for a losing draw showed both, and a habit was changed.

For the first time in seven years, the Cricket Meadow men secured a fifth successive victory that has seen them surge up to fourth in Shropshire League Division One. Watched once again by an engaged and jubilant home crowd, the winning feeling was palpable as neighbours Worfield were beaten with an excellent team display.

Ian Gregory has had a habit of scoring runs all summer, and a fourth half century saw him pass the 600 mark for the year. Alongside Jed Schwarzbach, the pair had laid a solid platform at 110-1, but the visitors fought back through their spinners to put the game back in the balance at 168-5.

After a half century and an eye-catching 85 in last week’s T20 Finals Day, Matt Martin then continued his recent purple patch with a run-a-ball 78, combining for a crucial 101-run stand with Chris Green (36 not out) to eventually post what would prove a match-winning total.

Worfield’s openers then stood tall with the bat in the reply, as former Cricket Meadow man Charlie Ward led the way with a classy 77. But Bridgnorth’s final key habit this summer has been the threat of spin, and after 17 overs it was Pete Scott who made the first breakthrough to make it 90-1.

Schwarzbach then joined the party from the other end, taking the next three to fall before Scott claimed the key wicket of Ward. Bowling thirty overs between them, the Australian ultimately finished with 5-68, his third bag of the season, before Gregory returned to finish the job with the first ball of his second spell.

A trip to second-placed Bomere Heath presents the next challenge for skipper Mark MacPherson-Lees’ charges, who sit fifty points ahead.

Bridgnorth II (235-7) vs Frankwell (317-5) - Losing Draw

After a dominant display with the bat from the home side on Saturday, the second team stood tall as they face a relegation scrap, with Neil Johnson hitting a superb counter-attacking century.

Earlier, Bridgnorth struggled to contain the hosts’ top order as they showed clear intent from the off, despite an excellent opening spell from Michael O’Sullivan that ultimately went without reward. Spinners Pradeep Pandurangan and Alfie Proctor both bowled well in the latter stages, but the runs flowed throughout as the total went beyond the 300 mark.

Needing at least 190 to chase down valuable draw points, the second innings effort initially stuttered to 45-3 as Frankwell’s strike bowlers looked threatening with the new ball. But Huw Morgan and Johnson changed the momentum of the game as boundaries were once again readily found. After Morgan was dismissed for a fine 55, Matt Lunn and O’Sullivan provided useful cameos at the other end, before Johnson brought up a much-deserved ton in the final over.

Bridgnorth III (245-8) lost to Newtown (250-7) by five runs

Despite not playing their best cricket of the summer, the third team made Newtown scrap all the way on Sunday, ultimately falling just short as the game reached a crescendo in the closing overs.

The hosts were limited to 39-4 early on, as Bridgnorth found ways to pick up wickets despite a mixed effort with the ball, before the hosts capitalised on a rapid outfield to surge back into the ascendancy. Skipper Alex Thomas ultimately finished with 3-31, whilst Isaac Lunn, Alex Riley-Craig, Marcus Thompson and Shashi Cherukuri picked up one apiece, but the Newtown batting line-up showed their depth as the total surged up to 250 by the close.

After losing an early wicket, Bridgnorth’s top order looked to be positive early on, with Riley-Craig and Dan Garbett both finding the boundary regularly. Thompson (35) and Cherukuri (52) then came together for an enterprising 78-run stand for the fourth wicket, denying threatening efforts from the Newtown bowlers.

But with the required rate climbing in the final ten overs, Peter Thompson hit the accelerator to smash 67 off 47 balls, but was ultimately dismissed with six still needed from the final over.