Bridgnorth (180-8) beat Fordhouses (193-6) by 2 wickets – D/L method

Being asked to bat first after home skipper Mark MacPherson-Lees won the toss, Fordhouses totalled 193-6 off their 50 overs. They were reduced to 35-4 early on thanks to overseas star Jamie Brown, who took four wickets in a fine opening spell.

The visitors’ middle order then set about recovering the situation, with Bridgnorth perhaps a little guilty of easing off the gas. Dave Exall (1-17) also bowled tightly and Sam Whitney (1-42) took the other scalp before the rain intervened at 120-6 off 34 overs.

When play resumed, Fordhouses pushed on to finish on 193-6, but the time lost meant the Cricket Meadow men were set a Duckworth-Lewis adjusted 179 runs to win in 40 overs.

The top order made a solid start to the innings, as opener Ryan Lockley anchored the chase with an excellent 72, as Bridgnorth reached 115-3 in the 24th over. A flurry of wickets then reduced the home side to 135-8, but Tom Weston (48*) showed admirable maturity amongst the carnage and kept a cool head. Brown (17*) joined Weston at the crease in the 33rd over and the pair compiled an unbeaten 9th wicket partnership of 45 that saw their team past the winning post in the 38th over.

Bridgnorth will hope for another positive result when they travel to Milford Hall on Saturday.