A fine all-round team effort saw Bridgnorth clinch a confidence-boosting win in what has been a challenging season so far, as they chased down 242 to beat Dorridge at Cricket Meadow.

After the visitors won the toss and chose to bat first under sunny skies, young starlet Jenson Caine impressed once again with the new ball to pick up an early wicket, but the Dorridge top-order batted well to set a platform for a big total.

As the runs ticked along, the Cricket Meadow bowlers stuck to their tasks well to prevent the run rate accelerating, and despite the opposition reaching 162-2 in the 45th over. Zak Abbas and the returning Italian international Jaspreet Singh then both bowled well at the death, picking up three wickets apiece as Dorridge finished on 241-7 off their 55 overs.

Bridgnorth’s openers then made the strong start they needed, as Rahul Kaushal and Harj Dhinsay put on 67 for the first wicket. But the visiting bowlers fought back as Kalana Perera (4-45) reduced the Cricket Meadow men to 96-4, needing to recover once again.

Skipper Matt Martin then dug in to anchor his team’s run-chase, whilst Singh counter-attacked in typical style with a quick 19, but it was the partnership between Martin and Charlie Ward that would put Bridgnorth on the brink of their first win. The pair knocked the ball around with maturity and building confidence, Martin reaching a well-deserved half century, and their 72-run stand seemed to have almost finished the job before Ward was dismissed for an excellent 34.

A brief cameo from Peter Scott then added further impetus, but a good catch in the deep saw the hosts slide to 216-7 in the 52nd over, putting the game on a knife edge.

But Raja Ateeq had other ideas. His first ball was biffed into the Sainsbury’s loading area for a huge six, and the second hit straight towards the sightscreen for another. A four through midwicket followed, before a high full toss was dispatched into the trees for a third six. A single off the final ball brought the scores level, before the first ball of the 53rd over was crashed through cover to seal victory in remarkable style.

“It’s been tough going this year, but it’s so good to get over the line today,” said delighted captain Martin after the game.

“We’ve had to rebuild this season, and with each game the lads have been working hard and improving. This is a massive boost for us, and will give the guys some belief. Everyone contributed to the win today, but that was a stunning finish from Raja. We can take a lot from today, and hopefully we can put in some more performances like that this summer.”

Bridgnorth II (219-9) lost to Sentinel (346-7) by 127 runs

The second team fought hard but were ultimately undone by a powerful batting display by Sentinel at the weekend.

A century from Jamie Wear and 90 from captain John Leah saw the hosts rack up a massive 346 from 45 overs, as all of Bridgnorth’s bowlers struggled to contain the onslaught. Stand-in skipper Chris Green picked up 3-53, whilst legspinner Arjun Cherukuri picked up 2-47, after Dan Rodenhurst had taken the first wicket to fall.

The Cricket Meadow men’s run-chase never really got going after three wickets fell early, before Cherukuri (31) and Green (65) combined to arrest the early slide. Ben Musgrave also added a well-made 37 towards the end, but the final total of 219-9 was a good effort but well short.

Bridgnorth III (140-7) lost to St Georges (144-5) by five wickets

Third team captain Matt Lunn top-scored with 54 at Quatt on Saturday, meaning an unusual clean sweep of half centuries for Bridgnorth skippers at the weekend, but it unfortunately wasn’t enough to avoid defeat to St Georges.

Fellow opener Rich Ealey made 21, and talented young allrounder Hugo Rhodes hit 16, but they were the only main contributions to a first innings score of 140-7 off 40 overs, having chosen to bat first.

Leg-spinning star Issy Crann then bowled superbly with the new ball, taking 3-20 off six overs, but the visiting top order cashed in at the other end, racing to their target in the 20th over.