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BCC just one win away from re-writing history!

BCC just one win away from re-writing history!

Alex Thomas5 Sep 2018 - 09:33
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Yet another four-win clean-sweep at the weekend saw the 1st XI move another step closer to place in the Premier Division in 2019...

A nailbiting last-over victory at Leamington saw Bridgnorth move just one win away from gaining promotion to the Birmingham Premier Division. The 2nds worked hard for their latest win at home, whilst the 3rds inflicted a heavy defeat over strugglers Beacon.

Bridgnorth (231-9) beat Leamington (230) by one wicket

A tense final over at Leamington saw Sam Baugh punch the winning run as the 1st XI remained in second place in Birmingham League Division One. Victory over Shropshire neighbours Shifnal at Cricket Meadow next week will see Bridgnorth claim a place in the Premier Division for the first time in the club's 179-year history.

Chasing 231 to win, opener Ian Gregory continued his recent purple-patch with the bat to hit an important 67. Sharing a crucial 116-run 3rd wicket partnership with brother Simon, the pair enabled Bridgnorth to recover from losing two early wickets.

At 155-3 it seemed the visitors were in control of the run-chase, but three wickets for 15 runs saw the hosts move well back into the game. The topsy turvy nature of the game had been the case from the start when opening bowlers Charlie Morris and Adam Quiney (3-52) had reduced the home side to 39-3 after Sam Whitney had won the toss.

Leamington then counter-attacked through Waqar Ahmed, who top-scored with a run-a-ball century, receiving good support from the middle order on a good batting wicket. Looking like passing 270, the Cricket Meadow men fought their way back with good bowling from Baugh, David Laird (2-54) and Whitney (2-57), as the last five wickets fell for 19 runs.

After the Gregorys' efforts with the bat, Laird (26) kept his side on track in the chase as he hit some useful boundaries, supported by a quick cameo from Gareth Mumford. But it was Mark MacPherson-Lees and Baugh who held their nerve in the final moments to clinch Bridgnorth's fifth win on the bounce and move one step closer to writing history.

Bridgnorth II (168-6) beat Newport (167) by four wickets

The second string were pushed by visitors Newport on Saturday before the middle order produced the runs required in what could have been a tricky run chase.

After winning the toss and choosing to bowl first, Newport opener Paul Furniss' 69 saw his team off to a good start, before Dan Kearsley made a double breakthrough. Following his six-wicket haul a few days previously, Matt Martin once again impressed with the ball in the middle overs before offspinner Alex Yarnley chipped away at the middle order to take 4-17. The tail was then finished off by Joe Smallman (2-19), who has been making an eye-catching return to bowling form in recent games.

A dodgy start from the Cricket Meadow men then saw them reduced to 21-2, threatening their unbeaten record in 2018. But Ben Lees (29) and Niall McAdam (53) had other ideas, unleashing a range of attacking shots to put their team back in control. Following McAdam's dismissal after reaching a second consecutive half century, Yarnley (31 not out) eased his side to the victory line, helped out by a quick cameo from Cam Wallis.

The seconds travel to second-placed Fordhouses next week, with victory set to confirm the Cricket Meadow men as champions of Birmingham League Reserve Division Two North.

Bridgnorth III (231-7d) beat Beacon (73) by 158 runs

Top-of-the-league Bridgnorth 3rds easily overcame bottom-of-the-league Beacon in Shrewsbury on Saturday, but with league rivals Trysull also winning, the league title may not be confirmed until the final game of the season.

Choosing to bat first, Guy Black (78) got his side off to a great start with a range of excellent off-side strokes in the first ten overs. After Joe Barclay had added a quickfire 30, skipper Ben Taylor (79) continued with the attacking intent as he raced his side past the 200 mark in the 30th over. For the second time in two weeks, his dismissal brought about an immediate declaration, giving the hosts a maximum of 47 overs to chase 232 to win.

Matt Bowler-Jones then took two early wickets, before two run-outs from Alex Thomas and Taylor reduced the hosts to 30-4. Thomas (2-4) and Jake Millichamp (3-14) then ran through the lower-order, before golden-arm Ben Cresswell took the final wicket with his one and only delivery to clinch victory.

Bridgnorth IV (188-7) beat Oswestry (169) by 19 runs

Catches most certainly did win the match for the 4th XI at Oswestry on Sunday as an excellent performance in the field saw the hosts dismissed for 169 after a rapid start. Home openers Neil Darley and Luke Jones had given their team a great start with the bat chasing 189 for victory, before Bridgnorth fought back with eight catches being taken.

Jake Millichamp (4-16) and Morgan Penny (4-20) were the main beneficiaries as the young side maintained their unbeaten record this season with just one game remaining. Earlier, the runs had been shared around, as Albert Roberts (40) and Alex Starr (34) led the run-scoring at the top of the order, before Penny and Ben Cresswell added a valuable 27 and 25 respectively.

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