On another glorious sunny day the green travelled to
local rivals pershore with a team slightly altered to accomodate the
four league teams that the green are now fielding,in came the
experienced sam freeman and youthful debutant tom banks.After losing the
toss for the second time the green were asked to bat on a well worn but
flat looking track, they lost Freeman to his first ball fishing outside
his off stump then Yorke followed in the next over doing exactley the
same, Tom Clack hit a four then decided not to play a shot to a straight
ball, this left the green reeling on 14 for 3, lewis hooper joined James
scullion and moved the score onto 25 then hooper was caught in the
covers for 11, The inform steve metcalfe joined scullion and together
they pushed the score along to 80 in the 23rd over until scullion was
adjudged LBW, for well compiled 20 having witnessed the early carnage
among the geens top order. Metcalfe was again in fine form and was just
about to cut loose when he drove a fierce shot straight only to see
Jessup cling onto a sharp caught and bowled for 36, spencer snr made 10
matt brookes was run out for 8 and tom banks looked comfortable until he
went for a big shot and was caught in the deep, this left the green in
allsorts of trouble 119 for 9 in the 38th over.The last pair of Graeame
glendenning and sam spencer then proceeded to show the so called batsmen
how to play , they were stout in defence and punished any loose
balls,glendenning stroked 39 in a partnership of 49 until he was caught
in the deep leaving spencer jnr notout 14,thanks to the last wicket
partnership the green totalled 168 in the 48th over . For pershore
Jessup bowled 21 overs and took 6 for 76.
After finding out the pershore tea lady had not
arrived the green took the field attempting to defend 168 in 52
overs,Matt brookes struck first bowling d.brooks for 6 then caught and
bowled smith for 17 leaving pershore 40 for 2 after 13 overs,sam spencer
and brookes bowled well and deserved more luck, metcalfe came on first
change and bowled Haider for 9 , then opener taylor and brown took the
score to 104 when spencer snr stuck having brown LBW for 14, a sharp
caught and bowled for hooper and spencer bowled jessup for 4 leaving
pershore130 for 6 in the 39th over, John Brookes joined Taylor they took
the score along to 152 for 7 when spencer had brookes well caught for
15, then spencer bowled opener Taylor for a fine 71, leaving the game
interestingly poised , pershore needing 7 runs with 3 wickets remaining
and 3 overs left,spencer took two more wickets leaving pershore 2 runs
for victory off the last over , lewis hooper bowled 5 dot balls and on
the last ball keeper glendenning missed a sharp legside stumping chance
allowing johnson 11no to scramble a leg bye, this leaving the scores
tied, both sides picked up 14 points.
If the green are to make an impact on the league this
season they need to learn to bat in partnerships and make sure they use
up their allotted overs.But when all said and done they would of settled
for a tied game when they were reduced to 119 for 9, it was a fine
fielding display with skipper spencer finishing with 5 for 25 off 11
overs.
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First League game of the season for the
Green 4ths was played at the beautiful, picturesque ground of Birlingham.
New skipper Andy Wheeler having lost 2 bowlers in the morning and replaced
them with 2 batsmen had no hesitation when winning the toss and inserting
the oppo with a “you get ‘em and we’ll chase ‘em” attitude.
Ian Alley and Adam Price opening the bowling both picked up early wickets on
a superb batting surface.
Green soon lost the athletic Dick Brown to a dislocated finger caused by a
dropped catch, but were more than happy with the replacement substitute
Shane Thompson came on and bowled his leg-spin with great control and guile
for one so young and brought him 2-28 from his first 8 overs.
The veteran Robbie Lewis came on and with the skipper took 2 wickets each
which kept Birlingham down to a good but gettable 223.
After a fantastic tea which included home-made strawberry mousse laced
generously with Rum openers Rob Lewis and Dave Knapper strode out to the
middle.
Being fairly circumspect at first, Knapper soon started unleashing a series
of scorching drives whilst Lewis was doing his best to keep the strike.
At the half way stage, Green were 104-0 and pretty confident. This pair
increased there partnership to 135 when Lewis fell for a well crafted 45.
Wheeler entered the fray and hit a quick fire 22 whilst Knapper still found
regular boundaries.
Chris Horne then came in and rotated the strike well to see Dave Knapper to
a superb 125 and the first win of the season for the Green.
BGCC 1st XI vs Monmouth
Monmouth were this weeks visitors to North End Lane and
visiting captain Dan Head took the early advantage of winning the toss and
inserting the home side. Missing influential opener Rich Williams again it
was left to sedately paced skipper Smedley to partner the in form Golder at
the top of the order.
The Green again started well on an excellent wicket prepared by unsung hero
groundsman Roy Mayo with both Smedley and Golder racking up early boundaries
despite the electric fielding of Smudge Smith for the visitors.
The introduction of Mark Temple Monmouth’s South African import slowed the
rate considerably as he landed his left arm spin accurately. Smedley and
Golder then departed in close succession, Smedley brilliantly caught and
bowled by Temple who had dropped an earlier chance off the same batsman.
Golder who continued his good form scored 59 and Smedley 39 including the
first six of his 1st XI career.
The rebuilding period started in circumspect fashion with youngster Liam
Paddock watchful in defense as the Green looked to set a platform.
Painstaking progress was made until Andrew Ford joined Paddock at the crease
and started to accelerate the rate. Ford was harsh on all the bowlers and
this seemed to inspire Paddock as he unleashed some excellent cricket shots
alongside improvised brilliance to record his maiden 1st XI league century.
Paddock was out for exactly a hundred playing one shot to many and it was
left to Ford with 40 to finish the innings at 280-9 when the allotted overs
ran out.
Yet again the Green started well with the ball, both Downes and New
Zealander Hoogstraten gaining bounce from the pitch and carry to the keeper.
The Green took early wickets again with Tim Williams introduced 1st change
bagging the all important wicket of Temple caught by keeper Binks whilst
attempting an ambitious drive. When Hoogstraaten took his sweater he had
bagged 2-33 and it was left to the spinners to try and squeeze the Monmouth
batters and force mistakes.
Unfortunately for the home side Ian McGinley and skipper Head had other
ideas. McGinley in particular playing some excellent cricket strokes on his
way to 89* and made all the more special by the fact that he had sustained
burns to his legs shortly before the game and was only allowed out on day
release to play.
As the game approached its conclusion skipper Smedley was caught between
trying to deny Monmouth the draw points and going for the outright victory
and skipper Head and McGinley showed clear heads to steer their side to the
draw before 2 late wickets dented the scorecard slightly.
The Green will be happy with 38 points from their 1st 2 fixtures and 3rd
place in the league whilst Monmouth still await their first positive result
of the season.
BGCC 280-9, Paddock 100, Golder 59, Ford 40.
Monmouth 232-6, McGinley 89no, Head 40, Hoogstraaten 2-35, Smedley 3-60
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