Bridgnorth (213) beat Bomere Heath (168) by 45 runs

Fantastic Five became Super Six on Saturday as Bridgnorth continued their rich vein of recent form to overcome second-placed Bomere Heath at Church Stretton. Victory was made even sweeter considering the manner of defeat that had been tasted at Cricket Meadow earlier in the season, and now means Bridgnorth are potentially two wins away from the promotion places with four games left to play.

Losing the toss led to skipper Mark MacPherson-Lees’ charges being asked to bat first, and the opening salvos belonged to the home side as the Cricket Meadow men found themselves 27-2 on a challenging wicket. But positive intent from Arjun Cherukuri (36) and Ian Gough (27) saw them counter-attack with a number of boundaries, before a double-breakthrough for Bomere Heath left the game in the balance at 90-5.

Alongside a watchful Matt Martin, Sam Baugh (33) continued the attacking mindset, hitting three sixes off the 30th over, but with both subsequently removed and Bridgnorth on 149-7, it needed the much-vaunted batting depth to deliver.

With Chris Green and Ash Bowler providing much needed late cameos at the other end, Pete Scott showed immense value from number nine, as an unbeaten 38 allowed the visitors to push through the 200-mark, before being bowled out in the 47th over.

To start with, the reply was all about one man. Ryan Lockley’s century had underpinned his team’s win in the reverse fixture, and the former Bridgnorth batter’s wicket was an undoubted key. A 55-run opening stand was ended as Scott lured fellow opener Henry Preece out of his crease in the twelfth over, before Sam Baugh induced an outside edge from Lockley, gratefully caught by Scott at slip.

Two further quick wickets followed to leave Bomere on 83-4, but the hosts middle order continued in obdurate fashion as they attempted to deny the Cricket Meadow men. Bridgnorth’s wealth of spin now came to the fore, as they chipped away courtesy of two wickets for Martin, before Scott returned to snare two in two balls.

At 144-8 with seventeen overs still remaining, it became a battle of who would force an error first. As the tail stood firm under pressure, it was Jed Schwarzbach who made the crucial breakthrough in the 47th over, before also trapping the number eleven in front with just 26 deliveries remaining.

Bridgnorth (200-4) vs Harpers (184-9) - Winning Draw

The second team put in a solid all-round display at Cricket Meadow to overcome Harpers on Saturday, in a game that could easily have gone either way.

Despite accurate and probing spells from the visitors’ bowlers, openers Adam Binfield and Alex Yarnley (38) put together a patient stand of 118 to set a strong platform for the middle order. As Bridgnorth looked to up the ante, Binfield fell for 75, before Peter and Marcus Thompson hit the accelerator to add 57 in just seven overs.

The final total of 200 looked around par, and seemed even better when Isaac Lunn broke through in his first over. But the Harpers top order took advantage of some loose bowling and a quick outfield to push on to 84-1 in the fifteenth over.

Izzy Crann then brought some much needed control and a breakthrough, as the highly promising Shropshire spinner kept the visitors in check. At 118-2 with seventeen overs left, Harpers appeared to hold the cards, but three further wickets for Crann (4-46) along with a fourth breakthrough from fellow young spinner Marcus Thompson saw the Harper Adams based outfit slip to 159-6.

Bridgnorth then continued to turn the screw, as a parsimonious second spell from Lunn was rewarded with a double breakthrough in his ninth over, before Yarnley grabbed another courtesy of an excellent running catch from Alfie Proctor.

Ultimately, Harpers’ final pair stood firm for the final twelve balls of the match, but Cricket Meadow’s second string will take both valuable points and confidence into the last four games of the season as they look to avoid relegation.

Bridgnorth III (227-8) beat Lilleshall (203) by 24 runs

Marcus Thompson starred with a superb maiden century for the third team on Sunday, as he anchored Bridgnorth’s first innings effort of 227.

After already hitting three half centuries this summer, it was a true coming of age for the classy youngster, as his chanceless knock featured shots all around the wicket. A 47-run stand alongside Isaac Lunn was unfortunately cut short, before three further wickets fell for just one run as the scoreboard suddenly read 67-5.

Ethan Osborne-Welch added a typically flamboyant 17, and Bhanu Muthirevula a further 26 to take Bridgnorth past 160. Needing to up the ante in the latter overs, Thompson showed admirable maturity beyond his years and, alongside the calmness of Lewis Welch (18 not out), the pair knocked the ball into gaps with alacrity, before a tight single brought up a much deserved three figures for the fourteen year old in the final over.
However, Lilleshall’s response began at an alarming rate as 59 runs were plundered from the opening seven overs. Skipper Alex Thomas then broke through twice in two overs to change the momentum, but the runs continued to flow from the bat of Ganga Nitta (62).

An excellent spell from Muthirevula was ultimately rewarded with the key wicket of Nitta in the 24th over, and in combination with Alfie Proctor the runs finally started to dry up. As the visitors looked to counter-attack, Osborne-Welch produced an outstanding direct-hit run-out from the boundary, before Pradeep Pandurangan ran through the tail to pick up his first five wicket haul.