1st XI v Penn (Home) - Lost by 8 wickets (D/L Method)

Bridgnorth’s fortunes on the first Saturday of the Birmingham & District Premier Cricket League season were as mixed as the weather they had to put up with, as the 1st XI fell to a disappointing eight-wicket defeat to Penn at Cricket Meadow.

This year, Birmingham League cricket has received an overhaul where half of all teams’ matches are played as a straight win-loss affair, giving a Bridgnorth side containing a mixture of youth and experience a new challenge.

With the visitors winning the toss and choosing to bowl first, Bridgnorth’s openers Tom Weston (32) and Andy Carson (15) battled hard against an accurate and hostile new ball attack. After Carson was removed, Ralph continued with the same fluent strokeplay that was a key feature of the season in 2012, moving the hosts to 84-1 in the 25th over before he was controversially run out for 36.

Jono Whitney looked in good form for his 25, including hitting a massive six that cleared the houses on Cricket Meadow. The returning Peter Thompson (58) showed his class for a well-played half-century, but no-one else was able to go on and produce a telling score. The returning Doggett bowled a hostile spell late on to remove both Thompson and captain MacPherson-Lees, leaving the tail to edge Bridgnorth towards a final total of 227-8.

With rain having delayed the game twice already, Penn were set a revised target of 216 for victory in 43 overs. Tom Weaver and Jono Whitney kept things tight early on, before Whitney (1-39) effected the first breakthrough at 12-1 in the eighth over.

The rain returned shortly afterwards, leading to a further recalculation of 196 to win in 39 overs and, almost immediately after the resumption, legspinner Sam Whitney (1-40) took the second wicket.

This, however, was to be the hosts’ final moment of joy, as Penn captain Dan Bassett (65*) and Vikul Lal (61*) combined for a match-winning 128-run partnership, punctuated only by a further rain delay.

Next Saturday, Bridgnorth will hope for a change in fortunes and forecast with a trip to Aston Manor.