BRIDGNORTH Cricket Club’s top two sides earned winning draws in Saturday’s double header with St Georges whilst the third team were left kicking their in-form heels as their opposition had withdrawn from the league.
St Georges v Bridgnorth
BRIDGNORTH firsts visited the Dragons on Saturday, and batting first seemed to be in some peril at 62-4 before Ryan Lockley (41) and Nick Gray (62) fashioned a recovery that Gray continued with the lower order to help the visitors to 196 all out in the last over. Connor Goodwin-Tindall (28) added vital runs from number eight.
The hosts run-chase saw some odd cricket as their pursuit was a nervy stop-start affair, and from a solid platform failed to find someone prepared to take the game to the bowlers – the pick of whom was Jack Edwards (2-31).
They ended up six runs shy of victory with four wickets in the bank. Skipper Mark Macpherson-Lees was relieved to return with the draw points.
Bridgnorth II v St Georges II
VISITORS St Georges won the toss and asked their hosts to bat first in seaming conditions. Glenn Edwards (81) and Andrew Carson (61) applied themselves to put on 110 for the first wicket.
From this base subsequent batsmen were allowed some freedom to play their shots and cameos from Tom Weston (22) and Ed Mullard (18) provided an appetiser for Matt Martin (70 not out) and Liam Brown (20 not out) to bully the attack and post 274-6.
The Dragons reply got off to a bad start as a direct throw down of the stumps by Greg Lewis meant indecision between the openers was punished.
Only Dave Pope (52) then provided any response to the off-spin of Steven Caine (6-25) as he tore through the batting and with Andy Leather (2-32) pushed the Cricket Meadow men in sight of victory but a stubborn 11-over, 10-run stand by the last pair frustrated them.
Bridgnorth, however, grabbed the lion’s share of the points and leapt over their opponents into second place in the league as the season heads towards an exciting climax.