BRIDGNORTH CC first team came away with the share of the spoils in yet another rain affected match on Saturday, having made the short trip to Ombersley where they batted first on losing another vital toss.
The batting surface was dry but the game was played in persistent drizzle and poor light with several stops as the rain became heavier, but Bridgnorth’s batsmen worked hard to reach 217-8 off their allotted overs. Ryan Lockley (54), Jono Whitney (36) Mark Macpherson-Lees (36 not out) and Jack Edwards (28) all contributed.
The interruptions for the weather took much of the meaning out of the game but in the remaining 18 overs Bridgnorth reduced their hosts to 71-4 before bad light stopped play. Bowling honours were shared among Edwards (2-28) Whitney (1-4) and Tom Weaver (1-28) as the visitors earned nine points to their hosts eight.
The second team game against the same opposition was abandoned without a ball being bowled and both teams get five points each. The third XI played against Shrewsbury outfit Quaysiders and some pretty awful weather to run out comprehensive runners-up. On winning the toss Bridgnorth chose to bowl first and things went to plan in the first half, as they reduced their hosts to 155 all out with spin twins Sam Best (3-41) and Charles Thornton (3-13) to the fore. Batting however did not follow the plan as only Best (12) and Elliot Pottinger (11) crept into double figures as the Cricket Meadow men folded to 67 all out.
Cound 104-7 Worfield 106-2
WORFIELD’S Manny Singh produced a high quality bowling performance to set his team up for victory over Cound in a rain interrupted match. Having won the toss and elected to bowl Worfield eventually took to the field at 3.45pm following a rain delay.
Cound’s top order simply had no answer to Singh’s high class bowling as he took four wickets in 14 overs for just 12 runs including eight maidens. Despite the difficulties of two further rain delays Cound skipper Matt Jones produced a workman like innings to finish unbeaten on 44 and allow his side to post 104 from their 35 overs.
Singh was well supported by Tim Beardmore and Joe Arnold who both picked up a wicket. Due to the rain interruptions the Cound innings only finished at 6.40pm, and league rules state that the game would be abandoned as a no result if neither side could force victory by 8.30pm.
Worfield skipper Gareth Lanchbury knew his side would have around 25 overs to get the 105 runs they required. Matt Turner and Tom Pickerill, opening the innings, and had to battle hard to survive against a moving ball in the first seven overs, managing to score just eight runs between them. Turner then showed his class and experience, taking 11 runs from the 8th over and 14 from the 11th to take the Worfield score to 56 in the 13th over when he departed for 25. With the platform set skipper Lanchbury hit 24 from just 12 balls to get his team to their target in the 21st over, Pickerill finishing unbeaten on 26.
Worfield II 157 Market Drayton 158-5
Worfield lost early wickets and slumped to 34-5 off just 10 overs, but remaining opener Tom Matthews and George Breakwell went about rebuilding the innings. Their partnership grew to 88 off the next 15 overs and the score to 122 for 5 before George fell for a gritty 26.
Worfield were all out for 157 off 35.3 overs, with Matthews was left stranded on a brilliant 94 not out. Worfield’s opening bowlers started well, picking up early wickets but Drayton finally found the winning runs to leave them 158-5 off 25.1 overs. The Worfield thirds game was rained off.
