BRIDGNORTH cricketers experienced a mixed weekend of results as they fielded three strong sides following the debacle of availability the previous week.
The first team lost to a powerful Berkswell outfit, who continue to push for promotion, whilst the seconds mount their own bid for elevation after trouncing bottom club Olton.
The thirds missed out on victory by one wicket having dominated Quaysiders.
Bridgnorth v Berkswell
THE firsts rattled up an impressive 264-7 against a powerful Berkswell after losing the toss at the Coventry-based club who included three players with first class experience and a more than useful overseas all-rounder.
Jono Whitney (91) and A J Smith (71) shone with the bat as the Cricket Meadow men sought to register points to move away from the lower reaches of the table, but both fell at crucial stages in the chase to set a challenging total.
Earlier, Dave Exall (25) had got a start before becoming victim to former Warwickshire star Graham Welch on his way to 2-41.
Pacey South African Wessell Hartslief (3-63) caused problems for the batsmen before giving the bowlers headaches with an unbeaten 65 as his side chased down the target with five overs to spare, keeping them in third place.
Bridgnorth skipper Mark Macpherson-Lees worked hard for his team with an unbeaten 35 and 2-74 with the ball but was quick to acknowledge the class of their opponents.
“We posted a good target for them but the quality and experience in their line-up made me worry that we were 20 short of stretching them,” he said.
“Jono batted well, but he or A J needed to see us further on and they had their share of luck in the chase, but we lost to a cracking side”.
Bridgnorth II v Olton & West Warwick
BOTTOM club Olton had little answer to Bridgnorth seconds bowlers as they batted first on Saturday, crumbling to 128 all out.
Andy Leather (3-36), Tom Baugh (3-23) and Steve Caine (2-40) were rewarded for patience while the pressure created saw two run outs, one a direct hit by Connor Goodwin-Tindall, as the home side hustled their opponents to a low total.
The early loss of Glenn Edwards (5) proved the only low point of the reply as Andrew Carson and Tom Weston both made unbeaten 56s, easing home with 20 overs to spare and fourth spot in a table heavy with promotion hopefuls.
Bridgnorth II v Quaysiders
A strong third team hosted Shrewsbury-based Quaysiders who had defeated the Bridgnorth side in the reverse fixture earlier in the season and batted first on winning the toss.
Liam Brown (68) and Andy Mooney (59) were instrumental in their side’s 233-8 with positive stroke-play, setting a challenging total on a good wicket at the Choleras Oval.
Bridgnorth’s bowlers then set about the quest for wickets and Alex Thomas (2-18) Dan Taylor (2-33) and Brown (3-29) nearly claimed maximum points, but the last pair of visiting batsmen held out for the draw at 156-9.
