1st XI v Milford Hall (Home) - Match Abandoned

The weather was unfortunately the only winner at Cricket Meadow on Saturday, despite Bridgnorth’s best attempts to overcome Milford Hall in a heavily rain-affected contest.

The week’s heavy rain had created a saturated square, leading umpires and captains to agree to a shortened 38-overs per side match. Bridgnorth skipper Mark MacPherson-Lees won the toss and asked the visitors to bat first.

Milford Hall were reduced to 35-3 in the 14th over, with Tom Weaver (3-21) and Jono Whitney (1-27) bowling well with the new ball. The Milford middle-order then worked hard to consolidate the innings before a late counter-attack led by wicketkeeper batsman Christian Smith (66) lifted the visitors to a final total of 155-5.

At the tea interval the rain returned to delay the match yet further. Once the conditions had been deemed satisfactory for the game to continue, due to the amount of time lost the umpires offered the teams just 16 overs for Bridgnorth to chase 156 for victory, or for the visitors to dismiss the Cricket Meadow men.

Bridgnorth elevated Whitney and James Ralph to open the batting as they searched for quick runs, but no-one was able to get going and the push for victory eventually fizzled out.

“It was disappointing that the weather had such a fundamental effect on the game,” said skipper MacPherson-Lees after the game, “as we had backed ourselves to get a good result here. There’s lots of cricket to go yet though, and we’re playing some good cricket at the moment.”

Next week Bridgnorth host Quatt in the eagerly awaited first Birmingham League match-up between the local clubs.