The prize for the most agonising defeat was undoubtedly claimed by the first team, as they fell just short of a third win in four games despite a battling 36 from Tom Weaver, who was cruelly dismissed in the final over to a catch on the boundary.

The lower order had showed their tenacity after a top-order wobble against league strugglers Tamworth, with Joe Smallman’s 23 proving the most substantial innings. Playing with the fighting spirit that often encapsulates the Cricket Meadow men, the game went down to the wire but will end up being remembered as one that got away.

Earlier, Adam Quiney and Sam Baugh had delivered tight and testing opening spells with the new ball after skipper Sam Whitney had invited the visitors to bat first. The captain then claimed the plaudits in the middle overs by taking his first five-wicket haul of the season, before Quiney, JP Erasmus and Ross Hurdley cleaned up the tail.

A trip to Wolverhampton this Saturday will pose a further tough test in what will continue to be a tough summer of cricket.

Bridgnorth II (59) lost to Shelton (105) by 46 runs

The second team were also left to rue an opportunity missed after having reduced Shropshire League Division One leaders Shelton to 17-7. A superb spell of 6-44 from Cam Wallis and 2-14 from fellow strike bowler Dan Kearsley had seemingly put their side in an insurmountable position, before the tail fought back to drag the home side up to three figures.

A weakened Bridgnorth batting order then struggled on the green wicket, with only Patrick Smallman reaching double figures. The hosts’ strike bowlers exploited the conditions perfectly, and skipper Matt Martin’s team will hope to bounce back at home to Frankton on Saturday.

Bridgnorth III (90) lost Acton Reynald (158) by 68 runs

It was also a bowlers’ day at Acton Reynald as the third team reduced their hosts to 56-7, thanks in part to skipper Alex Thomas’s 5-24. Debutants Norman Roberts and Huw Morgan also took an impressive pair of wickets apiece, but a lower order fightback from the home side saw them post a score that would prove too much for Bridgnorth to chase.

Ben Taylor and Ed Bennett were the only men to pass double figures, as they slipped to a second defeat of 2019. But the possibility of a first home game of the season against Bishops Castle on Saturday will give Thomas’s men hope for a change in fortunes.

Bridgnorth IV (155-7) lost to Whitchurch (156-4) by six wickets

An eye-catching 61 from talented youngster Norman Roberts was the high point for Bridgnorth on Sunday, supported by a dogged 27 for James White as the fourth team worked hard against an accurate Whitchurch bowling attack.

However, the lower order struggled to kick on towards the end of the innings, leaving the bowlers to defend a total which would ultimately prove too few. Lewis Hurdley claimed a brace of wickets, whilst Huw Morgan and Alex Thomas took a well-earned wicket apiece, but some impressive displays from Whitchurch’s young batsmen saw them ease over the winning line.