Bridgnorth (183-5) beat Tamworth (180) by five wickets

The home side eagerly took the opportunity to bat first upon winning the toss, and solid early partnerships saw them reach 145-2. The seam bowlers struggled on a pitch that offered them no assistance, but legspinner Sam Whitney (4-47) stepped up to the tough task presented by removing the top four.

Whitney’s third wicket triggered the middle order collapse that the Cricket Meadow men were searching for, as the home side lost eight wickets for just 35 runs. The removal of the settled and dangerous combination of Burrows (58) and Flower (32) saw the remainder of the hosts line-up dismissed in remarkably swift fashion, as skipper James Ralph (4-34) combined well with Whitney to spin their side back into the ascendancy.

The remaining two wickets came courtesy of run-outs from Ian Gregory and Tom Weston, highlighting another solid performance in the field.

Bridgnorth’s chase of 181 to win started in a familiarly strong fashion, but unfortunately openers Karl Quiney and Ralph failed to capitalise on good starts. However, Ryan Lockley and Simon Gregory have already shown themselves to be capable candidates taking on important roles wielding the willow this season on many occasions, and once again delivered a crucial partnership to put the game back into the visitors’ favour.

In stereotypically Cricket Meadow cricketers’ fashion, a few wickets late in the piece reawakened a few nerves as Lockley (47) and Gregory (30) were dismissed, before a typically quickfire knock from Dave Exall (26) and a confident final partnership between Weston and Ian Gregory saw Bridgnorth ease past the winning line in the 45th over.

Whilst no one person stepped up to play a big, match-winning innings, vice-captain Whitney commented that it was encouraging to see the deep Bridgnorth batting line-up all make valuable contributions. Good time spent in the middle by the lower order may well become vital to draw upon during further potentially tough games later this season.

Still just two points behind league leaders Shifnal, but now nineteen ahead of third and fourth place, Bridgnorth host Shifnal on Saturday in what is set to be another close battle.