Needing a win to get their season back on track in Shropshire League Division One, Bridgnorth found a way to secure 20 crucial points on the road at Montgomery on Saturday.

Having fallen short at key moments in some games so far this summer, the Cricket Meadow men found a way in another match that saw momentum change as regularly as the recent weather. And on a day that threatened to deny any chance of play, Bridgnorth would’ve been somewhat perturbed early on as their hosts raced to 59 without loss after choosing to bowl first in a shortened 40-over contest.

However, the introduction of spin proved the first key juncture of the afternoon as a miserly spell from Matt Martin was rewarded with figures of 3-18, including the wicket of the hard-hitting Ruff-Cock for a 21-ball 44.

An excellent catch from Alfie Proctor off the bowling of Jed Schwarzbach then signalled the first of four wickets for the Australian, before Pete Scott finished off the trial by spin taking 3-9.

With the final eight wickets of the first innings falling for 25, it was clear that a watchful approach and a positive mindset would be needed in the run chase, even more so as Bridgnorth slipped to 18-2 early on. Chris Green added some much needed impetus alongside the watchful Adam Binfield, but at the halfway point the home side appeared to be in the ascendancy.

What followed was a remarkable assault that was signalled by the fall of skipper Mark MacPherson-Lees, with the scoreboard reading a somewhat murky 78-7. Realising it was hit-out-or-bust, Scott unleashed a spectacular counter-attack that saw him pepper both sides of the boundary 12 times in 32 balls, five of which going for much-celebrated maximums.

With Neil Johnson enjoying the best seat in the house at the other end, Scott’s 67 will surely be far more memorable in years to come than the recent tiktok craze, as the winning line was blasted across with seven overs to spare. Thankfully the final swing came 10 minutes before the weather changed once again, maybe hinting at an improvement in fortunes to come.

Bridgnorth II (99) lost to Newtown (101-2) by eight wickets

Unfortunately the second team wait for a momentum change goes on another week after Newtown bowled them out for 99 in a 30-over contest at Cricket Meadow.

After slipping to 52-7, Peter Thompson (25) and Isaac Lunn (20) were the only batters able to offer some resistance to a generally accurate bowling attack. Simon Pitt then struck twice with the new ball to offer a small glimpse of hope, but some dominant hitting from the visitors saw game completed in the 14th over of the reply.

Bridgnorth III (75) lost to St Georges (76-2) by eight wickets

The third team’s recent winning run was punctuated with by defeat at St Georges on Sunday, with Bridgnorth missing a number of senior players on the day.

The hosts took control from the start as an accurate bowling performance on a helpful surface saw the scoreboard read 6-3 in the opening overs. Marcus Thompson and Dileep Sagar briefly countered with a 41-run stand, but a further collapse saw them slump to 75 all out off 20 overs.

Izzy Crann and Alfie Proctor were then rewarded with the wicket apiece in the field, but St Georges ultimately eased to their target in the eighteenth over.