9th, 10th & 12th June 2013 - Match Reports.

BGCC limited over success

Following their impressive 179 run victory over Brewood on Saturday BGCC 1sts travelled to Bromsgrove for the BDPCL – ECB National League T20 Rounds 2 and 3. They were drawn against the hosts Bromsgrove in the Round 2 for the right to play the winner of the first game between Halesowen and Ombersley. Ombersley batted first and made 145 for 4 off their allotted overs, Halesowen (from Div 2) did well to win the game in the final over finishing 146 for 1.

BGCC batted first and accumulated 142 all out thanks mainly to some aggressive batting for his half century from Phil Harris. Bromsgrove kept up with the rate but lost wickets regularly. In a tense finish hey were on 140, needing just 2 to win off the last ball, when Mark Hardinges sent the stumps flying. This signalled wild celebrations from players and the travelling support.

In Round 3 BGCC batted first again and this time it was Tom Clack who claimed an impressive half century. He was well supported by Andy Ford, Ash Brewer and Mark Hardinges to enable the Green to post a formidable total of 164. Early wickets from Jon Dovey severely limited Halesowen’s capacity to keep up with the run rate. They were finally dismissed in the last over for 133 more than 50 runs short. BGCC will play Moseley in the Semi-Final on June 30^th, with the winning playing either Shrewsbury or Tamworth.

BGCC Evening League took to the field on Monday evening hosting Worcester Dominies and Guild in the first round of the Dowdeswell Cup. A big-hitting innings of 101 not out from Overseas Alex Hepburn, including 9 fours and 6 sixes, helped the Green to 136 off their 12 eight ball overs. Dominies struggled from the beginning and were only able to reach 70 off their allotted overs with Jon Dovey taking 3 for 11 and James Marsh 2 for 8. Their reward is a home semi-final on July 15^th.

In the final game of the week BGCC 1sts headed to local rivals Old Elizabethans in the 2^nd round of the Birmingham League T20 Challenge Cup competition. A considerable amount of rain had fallen during the afternoon so play got underway with a reduced game of 16 overs. BGCC made good progress with most batsmen contributing runs but were limited by the low bounce and losing regular wickets. The rain came again causing a break in the innings, when play resumed the Green went on to accumulate a decent total of 111. OE’s faced a daunting task of 112 on a damp wicket in ever darkening light. Tight bowling from the Green kept the pressure on and OE’s struggled to keep up with the run rate. Good bowling from spinners Andy Ford and Blair Kingsland (3 wickets each) meant OE’s needed 12+ an over for the last third of the innings. Despite some big hitting OE’s fell 14 runs short when their last man was dismissed. BGCC go on to the next round when they will play the winners of the game between Worcester Nomads and Ombersley.