Bridon are still in relegation fight

On Saturday the Bridon Cricket Club 1st XI team visited Notts and Arnold Amateurs in a very important tussle but came away with just four points after losing by 79 runs.

On a typically dry wicket of little pace and bounce, the home side were asked to bat first but found run scoring difficult as Colin Hurst in particular maintained a disciplined line and length.

After adding 36 runs, Hurst struck in the 12th over when he deceived the free-scoring Ian Flood.

Without addition to the total, Matt Makings had Jeff Ainger superbly caught in the gully by James Boock.

Joe Pallister and D Cooray cautiously took the total to 53 before the former was trapped lbw by Hurst.

The experienced Bridon left-armer was bowling a great spell and, with the total on 75 in the 26th over of the innings, he had Pete Evans caught by Boock in the gully.

The Sri Lankan Cooray now stood between Bridon and a very modest total.

After reaching a watchful 50, the right-hander dominated the attack with a classy array of shots.

I Cross, with 19, and P Sells with 14, gave dogged assistance to Cooray but the second half of the innings was one of frustration for the visitors.

The final total of 236 for the loss of seven wickets represented a good effort by the home side, but it was dominated by Cooray's unbeaten 118.

The Bridon bowling, with the exception of Hurst and Makings, disappointed.

The Bridon reply began with Boock and Wayne Spooner facing the new ball attack of the talented Flood and S Leivers. Unfortunately, with the total on 17, Flood trapped Boock lbw in the seventh over.

Aaron Haycock, in his usual manner, threatened to play another dominating innings as he did the previous week, but was deceived by Flood with the total on 51.

The hard-hitting Ashley Corrie and Spooner took the total to 79 in the 20th over, but the latter was then very unluckily run out as a straight drive from Corrie deflected off Richard Pallister on to the stumps, running out the left-hander for 37 after he was looking set for a very large score.

With the introduction of the experienced skipper Dave Wood into the attack, the middle order struggled to push the run rate along on the pitch of so little pace and bounce.

With Corrie scoring 24, Makings 18 and Simon Davison 21, the Bridon batting failed to threaten the required total.

Flood returned to the attack to mop up late wickets as the visitors' innings closed in the 48th over at 158.

Flood returned the excellent figures of six for 47 off 13.1 overs, but the four points gained by Bridon keeps the side deep in the relegation fight.