Bridges win local bragging rights against Ifield

On the back of a good win against Pagham, Three Bridges wanted to put successive wins together for the first time this season.

The two sides have become rivals over the last few seasons with Bridges yet to lose in the league to Ifield, however with impressive signings on board, Bridges knew this Ifield side could be the most challenging yet.

Both sides had won two from their four games so far and a tight game was expected.

The pitch wasn’t the usual Bridges road as it had a touch of moisture, but skipper Tom decided to bat infront of generous crowd of spectators.

Another new opening partnership of Conor Golding and Milo Price played with assurance first up beforeGolding was run out coming back for two.

Ian Church joined Price and built a good partnership, though once the overseas spin of Dinesh Sulankhe came on, runs were hard to come by.

Price was caught behind off the leg spinner for 26. Hugo Cowan then joined Church.

Church was the more positive of the two and fter moving past his 50 he was caught driving at extra cover off Parekh for 51, a patient knock that the team have struggled to provide this season. Ollie Blandford came in and hit a swift 19, lbw to Parekh. Victor Davies was caught at cover off Sulanke and when Keats was stumped after quick work by Jack Groves, a score of 200 plus was looking unlikely.

Rose tried and failed as Parekh had him caught and bowled for 1. But in came skipper Tom Blandford who managed to take the side up to a good score of 181. He struck three boundaries including two big sixes in his 24, as Cowan went for a solid 28 and the tail failed to wag.

Salunkhe finished with 5-66 while Parekh took 3-55.

Matt Blandford and Davies opened up and showed why their probably the best new ball attack in the league, keeping it tight and challenging the openers on both edges. Early wickets were key and Davies got the break through as Alex Norrington was bowled for 5 to a nip backer. a few overs later Cooke was caught at point on the drive off Blandfordand the first 10 belonged to Bridges, 20-2. The opening pair and Floyd, when he joined the attack, kept runs down as the required rate went up and up. Norris and Smith being patient but as overs when by the chase was becoming more unlikely. And then a massive moment as the ever impressive Floyd had the dangerous Norris brilliantly caught down the leg side by the full stretched Tom Blandford, 35-3.

On came Rose and he got a wicket first over. Smith searching for runs was caught and bowled off the leading edge and Bridges were now well and truly on top.

Rose and Floyd bowled brilliantly in the middle overs and the pressure told on Dorrington who was caught at cover by Golding off floyd. But after this fantastic start by bridges, a fight back of sorts came in the form of Groves and Sulankhe. They dug in and it appeared ifield were hoping to escape with a draw. They started to frustrate Bridges with some patient defence, though there were a few rash shots in between. They batted a long time together despote the returning efforts of Matt who had groves dropped on the dive by brother Tom which seemed like a decisive moment.

But with only 14 overs left the skipper bought back Davies, which is when the momentum swung again. He had Groves caught low down at gully by Cowan and Bridges found their buzz and energy again. One big push was needed for the last four wickets, which became three when Davies had Sulankhe caught slip by Church.

Davies showing his match winning qualities in a brilliant spell of bowling. Another good decision by Tom was the bring Rose on the other end, when Patel played a baffling stroke skying the ball to mid on. Bridges sensed a dramatic win even thought the overs were running out.

The ninth wicket fell as Rose bowled Parekh with a quicker yorker and 1 wicket was needed from the last four overs and it didnt take long as the hero Davies had Daniel Groves lbw to win the game.

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