A BRILLIANT century from former Dorset wicketkeeper-batsman Sean Fitzgerald guided Bridport to an impressive six-wicket victory at West Moors on Sunday.
Chasing a challenging 212 to win, he helped himself to a brilliant 137 not out to see Bridport home with 15 balls to spare.
Fitzgerald clubbed 15 fours and three sixes in a dominant innings which brought Bridport their second NSA Sunday Division Two win of the season.
After being asked to bat first, West Moors were kept in check by tight opening spells from Will Michell and Paul Coatsworth.
Andy Sherring maintained the grip in his 11-over spell, but West Moors always had wickets in hand and were never in any serious trouble.
As they chased quick runs at the end of the innings, Nicky Scott chipped in with his first five-wicket haul for the club which prevented West Moors from really getting away.
Bridport started their innings with only four specialist batsmen . The odds were heavily stacked against them and it needed one of the top four to make a big score.
They certainly got that from Fitzgerald even though it needed a partnership of 120 with Andy Sherring to put Bridport back into the picture.
Sherring, batting in the unaccustomed position of number five, provided excellent support and recorded his highest score for the first team with an intelligent 35.
Bridport still needed 22 from the final five overs when 14-year-old county wicketkeeper Paul Tweddle joined Fitzgerald. He showed tremendous calm in a pressure situation and saw Bridport through to their fine win.
Fitzgerald fittingly finished the match with a massive six over square leg and was duly named man-of-the-match.
Everybody played well in a fine all-round team performance. Henry Bloxham excelled in the field and Norman Robbins took a fine catch on the boundary to dismiss the dangerous Richie Blandford.
West Moors P Bradley b Michell 3 Sapson c Bloxham b Scott 54 Blandford c Robbins b A Sherring 41 G Bradley b Scott 23 Warner b Scott 29 Norris b Scott 27 Alderson lbw b Scott 0 Watson not out 2 English not out 0 Extras 32 Total 45 overs (7wkts) 211 Ingles, Buxton did not bat. Bowling: Michell 12-2-36-1, Coatsworth 12-0-69-0, A Sherring 11-1-46-1, Tucker 4-0-15-0, Scott 6-0-40-5.
Bridport Fitzgerald not out 137 Brooks b Norris 6 Hayball lbw b Watson 7 Scott b Watson 5 A Sherring b Ingles 35 P Tweddle not out 3 Extras 21 Totals: 42.3 overs (4 wkts) 214 Robbins, Michell, Tucker, Bloxham, Coatsworth did not bat. Bowling: Watson 12-2-40-2, Norris 6-0-27-1, G Bradley 12-2-45-0, Buxton 3-0-23-0, Blandford 6.3-0-45-0, Ingles 3-0-15-1. Points: West Moors 7, Bridport 18.
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