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BGCC started the
2006 Sunday league campaign against local rivals Worcester CC and they took
with them a side mixed of youth and experience.Skipper Kev Golder lost the
toss and was asked to bowl on what looked to be a batsmans dream wicket,
this dream was later to become reality.
The Green opened with youngsters Tom Clack and Sam Spencer who although
bowled well to start with soon found it hard to trouble the opening pair of
Maewenga (110) and L. Weston (80) After 10 overs the score had raced above
100 for 0 and a massive total was inevitable. Golder made changes to the
bowling attack including Australian Fast bowler R McCard who although caused
discomfort to the openers could still not find the break through.
Golder then turned to Spin and experience Jez Clarke and Phil Spencer bowled
their 18 overs between them with Maewenga being dismissed LBW to Clarke and
JC falling victim to Spencers slower fuller delivery. Both returned figures
of 1 for 60 off their 9 overs.
This left the remaining Worcester batsmen to bat around Liam Weston. Spin
remained the game plan for the green who now looked to peg the total down as
close to 300 as possible. Mark Hooper and Chris Smedley carried on chipping
away at the Large Worcester tail which did have substantial ‘wag’ Hooper
then had Liam Weston caught at Long off by Jez Clarke for 80 and it was left
to the youngsters of the Worcester side to accompany Dormston Cook through
to the end when they eventually closed the innings on 320 for 5 after their
45 overs.
Although Worcesters side had a noticeable amount of inexperience in their
side the remainder of the Birmingham League pedigree along with an
International bowler Waddington Maewenga should have been of a good enough
quality to defend this large total.
Barnards Green mixed the batting order up and Kevin Golder survived a couple
of early live lines and then put his old club to the sword, he kept the Run
rate up and around what was required whilst his batting partners came and
went, Knapper, Smedley and Hooper all failed to make noticeable
contributions until Rob Mc Card marched to the wicket, he and Golder had to
spend time at the crease to enable the green to be in with a chance.
Bowling changes were made and Maewenga was bought into the attack but he had
no answer to Mc Cards array of shots, he scored freely to all parts and
bought his 50 up in no time. The green progressed past 200 at an alarming
rate not even half way through the 45 overs then the Australian / English
language barrier broke down and Golder was run out for a useful 77 Tim
Williams and Phil Spencer both came and went and the Green looked to be in
trouble at 230 for 6 Jez Clarke joined Mc Card and with plenty of overs left
to bat they set about rebuilding the innings putting the bad ball away with
ease at the same time.
Mc Card Passed his maiden Century and the 6th wicket partnership passed 50
and the game looked to back in favour of the green.
With the score on 296 Jez Clarke chopped on to his stumps for a valuable 26
but with 18 overs still to bowl Worcester heads were well and truly down,
Nick Rogers was now the man in support of the Australian and proved more
than capable of supporting him through to the end, the green eventually won
in the 36th over 7 wickets down.
McCard was dropped on the boundary by Bolton when striking the winning runs
which was the only chance he gave in an innings of timing and shear power
which was a pleasure to watch by all, Rob finished on 172 not out and faced
just 88 balls.
The Green will look to build on this next week when they entertain
Bromsgrove.
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