Sam Baugh dismantled Montgomery almost single-handedly on Saturday with a stunning all-round display that saw his side surge up to fifth place in Shropshire League Division One.

In a game that Bridgnorth remained in charge of from start to finish, Ian Gregory and Arjun Cherukuri once again gave the Cricket Meadow men a solid start at the top of the order. Jed Schwarzbach then found early fluency as the runs flowed in the middle overs, capitalising on loose deliveries from the visiting bowlers, whilst Ian Gough and Ross Hurdley batted well alongside him to maintain the tempo.

After both fell to leave the scoreboard reading 204-5, it was over to Baugh and Pete Scott to finish the innings strongly, and Baugh quickly looked in the mood to hit out. As boundaries began to flow and Scott playing the perfect foil, Baugh smashed seven sixes off the final few overs as he powered to an unbeaten 70 off just 28 deliveries, before skipper Mark MacPherson-Lees declared with three overs remaining.

Needing to bowl the visitors out to claim maximum points for the win, Baugh led from the front once again as he trapped opener Randall in his second over, before claiming two in three balls to leave Montgomery reeling on 12-3. A short period of calm followed as the batters fought hard to keep themselves in the contest, but it was merely delaying the inevitable.

Seemingly carrying threat with each ball he bowled on a surface offering assistance for the left-arm spinner, Baugh made another double breakthrough with the score on 38, before fellow tweaker Scott claimed his first victim just four balls later. Wicket number seven arrived in the following over, at which point the batting side were firmly on the ropes as a delighted home crowd watched on.

Ultimately, it was always going to be Baugh that would land the final blow to end the contest, as he broke through the defences twice more to dismiss Montgomery for just 63, finishing with remarkable figures of 8-18.

With the woes of the white-ball half of the season now a distant memory, Bridgnorth approach the remaining six fixtures of the summer with renewed vigour; spinners turning the tide, as well as the ball.

Bridgnorth II (128) lost to Newtown (210-6) by 82 runs

Unfortunately, the second team’s recent woes continued as they fell to another defeat on the road, this time to league leaders Newtown.

Despite a fast start by the home side after choosing to bat first, Bridgnorth put up a spirited effort in the field. An excellent opening burst from Ethan Osborne-Welch was ultimately rewarded with a well-deserved first breakthrough, before spinners Matt Martin and Izzy Crann chipped away to limit Newtown to 105-4 at the halfway point.

But the middle-order countered Bridgnorth’s efforts to maintain their surge towards the 200 mark, and despite Michael O’Sullivan claiming a couple of late scalps, posted a final total which would ultimately prove too much.

The run chase got off to the worst possible start as both openers fell without a run on the board, as Bridgnorth slipped to 43-5. Matt Martin stood firm to reach a well constructed half century, but with O’Sullivan and Crann the only others to offer any lengthy amount of resistance, the final result was confirmed as they were bowled out with nine overs remaining.

Bridgnorth III (94-4) beat Alberbury (91) by six wickets

Despite struggling for availability in holiday season, Bridgnorth’s youngsters stood up to the challenge to beat league strugglers Alberbury on the road on Sunday.

A maiden five-wicket haul for Isaac Lunn ripped through the home side’s top order, whilst Ethan Osborne-Welch and skipper Alex Thomas took a wicket apiece, before spinner Alfie Proctor made a welcome return to form, running through the tail to pick up 3-24.

Despite losing both openers early, Osborne-Welch (22) and Shashi Cherukuri (42) played with confidence, attacking anything loose to race their side towards the winning target. Though both fell before the finish line was reached, Lunn and Geoff Bristow saw the team home off the first ball of the thirteenth over.