CRICKET: Three Bridges beat derby rivals Ifield in final over thriller

Bridges won the toss and elected to bat first but lost a wicket without a run on the board when Cowan was bowled by Jigar Parekh in the first over and things worsened for the visitors when Conor Golding and skipper Olle Blandford were both dismissed in quick succession.

James Russell and Joe Walker reached 47 before Russell was out for a patient 18 and Walker and new batsman Danny Alderman then further consolidated the recovery with a partnership of 53 before Walker was stumped for a well-made 37.

At 100 for 5 Bridges were back in the game. After Danny Alderman was out for 28, the tail wagged with runs from Tom and Matt Blandford and Michael Rose, the final total of 164 for 9 was below par.

The Ifield bowlers stuck at their task well and there were four wickets for Robbie Ballarino with the others spread around.

Ifield’s openers were both out cheaply but Mike Norris and Nathan Amin who was making his first team debut, took the score to 47 before Norris was LBW for 11 and then just 16 runs later Amin was stumped for 14.

At 63 for 4 the game was very much in the balance but significantly swung the way of Bridges when Sam Dorrington and Mahad Ahmed were both out with the score on 71 to leave the home side on 71 for 6 and in serious trouble.

Skipper Jack Groves and Daniel Groves put on an excellent stand of 66 runs before Daniel was caught behind for 35 to leave the home side on 137 for 7 but Jack continued the good work this time with Ballarino and the score progressed to 163 without further loss.

Just two runs were needed for victory with three overs left and three wickets in hand but suddenly from nowhere everything changed.

Bridges captain Olle Blandford brought everybody in to stop the singles that would take Ifield to victory.

But Groves on 42 seeing the chance to finish the game misjudged a shot over the covers and Tom Blandford gleefully took the catch.

Golding then had new batsman Pratik Patel LBW first ball and then two balls later he completed a remarkable over for himself and victory for Bridges.

Bridges won by a single run but Ifield will be wondering how they managed to lose a game that they fought so hard to get back into and then had in the bag right up until the very last moment.

Ifield travel to Mayfield next Saturday hoping to get back on the winning trail.