Senior sides show fight but tricky start to the summer continues

Bridgnorth (162) lost to Ombersley (165-0) by ten wickets

A strong Ombersley side featuring a number of Worcestershire players ran out convincing winners at Cricket Meadow.

Bridgnorth battled to 162 against a testing bowling attack, mainly thanks to a superb 64 from Simon Gregory, whose return to form will be a key part of the Cricket Meadow men’s potential success this season. He and skipper Sam Whitney shared a vital 74-run partnership after their side had slipped to 73-5, despite a positive 26 from JP Erasmus.

Worcester all-rounder Brett D’Oliveira and Neil Slade two three wickets apiece, as the visitors put in a fielding display befitting a side full of high quality players.

The reply was arguably more emphatic, as Ombersley’s opening pair of Liam Gwynne and Nick Hammond made short work of the run chase, clinching the win with 23 overs to spare and Gwynne completed a run-a-ball century.

Bridgnorth II (156) lost to Shifnal (227-7) by 71 runs

The second string’s disappointing away form this season continued as a strong Shifnal side posted an above-par 227-7 off 45 overs after being asked to bat first.

Despite an early breakthrough from Cam Wallis, Bridgnorth were left to rue a couple of missed early chances that may have enabled them to gain early control. Toby Hughes bowled well to take two scalps, receiving good support from Ross Hurdley, Alex Hill and Mark MacPherson-Lees, but the hosts’ middle order batted well to reach a total that would prove beyond reach.

Patrick Smallman and Wallis then gave their side a solid start in response, but the loss of three wickets saw the Cricket Meadow men forced to rebuild. The game seemed in the balance at 90-3 with Smallman and skipper Matt Martin working hard, but the run-out of Smallman would prove crucial.

Despite Ross Hurdley’s 23 combining with Martin’s 50, Bridgnorth would end up slipping to 156 all out in the 42nd over, and hoping for a better result this Saturday.

Bridgnorth III (222) lost to Calverhall (231-5) by 9 runs

After slipping to 86-5 in the run chase, Bridgnorth’s third team fell agonisingly short of what would have been a memorable win at Calverhall on Saturday, after an excellent counter-attacking fightback from a youthful lower order.

Charlie Walker batted superbly to compile a second senior half century, putting on 68 runs for the sixth wicket with Ben Cresswell. Jake Millichamp (32) continued the recovery, before Will Buxton and Matt Bowler-Jones took their side to the brink of victory, before the hosts clinched the final wicket in the penultimate over.

Earlier, skipper Alex Thomas had won the toss and elected to bowl first, but Calverhall’s opening pair posted a dominant 140-run stand to put their side firmly on top. But Bridgnorth fought back well through some tight bowling in the middle overs, before Cresswell and Millichamp both took two wickets apiece as the hosts attempted to hit out in the latter overs.

Updated 18:50 - 29 Aug 2019 by B CC