By Graham Carter
Three Bridges take on Horsham for the third time this season hoping for an unprecedented third successive victory over their local derby rivals.
Having beaten them already in the Sussex Premier League, Bridges faced the old enemy in the Sussex T20 Cup at home on Sunday and ended up winning off the last ball with two wickets left intact.
Horsham made 136-7 in their 20 overs. Bridges made 137 for 8 (Conor Golding 32, Ollie Blandford 32 not out) with Jigga Parekh hitting the last ball for 4 to secure the win. Bridges now face Hastings at home in the semi-final, 3pm on Sunday, July 28.
Skipper Danny Alderman said: “I can never remember beating Horsham three times in a season in my entire career so to do that would be heaven!”
A good run of three wins out of their last four games has lifted Bridges from bottom to fifth place. A victory on Saturday plus the right combination of results elsewhere could lift them further up to second place.
Alderman praised young star Conor Golding. He said: “Conor has done exceptionally well and is now our second highest scorer.
“Ollie Blandford is another youngster to show some real promise. It’s great to see and if they continue to develop could lead to them playing for Sussex first team in years to come. You have to go back to the Newells (Keith and Mark) since this was done in Crawley.”