The home side were left rueing a missed opportunity for their first win of the season when they finished agonisingly short in a run-chase after a good performance in the field.

After asking visitors Coventry & North Warwick to bat first in bowling-friendly conditions, Cam Wallis (2-25) took two wickets in his first over to give his side a great start.

Doug Roberts (3-12) then bowled an excellent, tight spell, and alongside Andy Leather (3-31) asphyxiated the visitors’ middle order as wickets fell at regular intervals. At 70-7, Bridgnorth looked favourites to finish off the job, but the Coventry lower-order dug in lift their side up to a competitive total.

Lewis Hurdley (2-18) took two late wickets to finish off the visitors fightback, as they were dismissed for 150 in the final over.

In reply, Wallis and Matt Martin battled hard against an accurate bowling attack to give their side a solid start. However, the runs appeared to dribble rather than flow, as the middle order struggled to find momentum. Skipper Martin (48) kept his side in front by punishing the occasional bad ball, but his dismissal proved a crucial moment.

The lower order then became stuck against some further tight bowling and fielding, and despite a few late blows from Charles Thornton (25*), the Cricket Meadow men were left just 12 runs short of victory on 139-8 after 50 overs.

A trip to Dorridge on Saturday provides the 2nd XI with their next chance of finding success this season.