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For the last match in
their 2006 Div. 1 Crusader League campaign, Barnards Green visited
Brockhampton’s attractive rural ground. Captain Chris Smedley won the toss
and elected to bat first on good firm wicket, in fine weather. Much to the
surprise of every one present, especially the brockhampton players M Ali (a
Middlesex County player ) arrived five minutes before the match was
scheduled to start to join their team, leaving a local team player, already
changed, to make way for him??
Barnards Green’s opening batsmen, Chris Smedley and Kev. Golder, played very
well against the professional bowling attack of A. Rauf and M. Ali taking
the team score to 35 by the tenth over, when Kev. Golder (21) received an
unplayable delivery, and was out bowled by A. Rauf. The next three batsmen,
Liam.Paddock, Paul Drinkwater and Adam Binks all resisted well but their
wickets fell regularly until with the team score on 95 for 4, Chris Smedley
(43 no) was joined by Phil. Harris and together these two pushed the score
along to 160 before Chris. playing a Captains innings, was finally out for
65,( his best score of the season.) Phil Harris with Jez. Clarke pushed the
score up to 184, when they both fell in the same over for 40 and 12
respectively. The Greens tail added 18 further runs before their innings
closed on 202 in the 45th over. A. Rauf finishing with impressive bowling
figures of 76 for 6 in 13 overs.
After a notable tea, the Brockhampton innings started in dramatic fashion,
to say the leased, as they lost 4 wicket quickly to the excellent pace
bowling of Kev. Downes 3 Wkt s. for 17, and Tim Williams,1 Wkt for 1. Three
of their victims, out without scoring. This fine bowling only brought
together, A. Rauf ( that man again ) and M.Ali ( the Middlesex player ) who
both showed their professional skills to push the Brockhampton total up to
189, before Rauf (95) was out to a stunning catch by Kev. Downes ,off the
bowling of Tim Williams. This left M. Ali ( 72 n o ) supported by N. Denny
to see the home side through to a winning score of 208 for 5.
Brockhampton ------------- 24 Points
Barnards Green ------------- 6 Points
This result ends the Crusader Div. 1 season, and it remains to be seen what
the fate of the Greens first and second eleven teams will be. This now
depends on results in the higher Birmingham Leagues. Who’s fixtures are not
concluded yet.
See you all next season somewhere!! Ian G. Shaw.
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On their last league game of the
season the green entertained Brockhampton hoping to finish the season off on
a high note.The Green won the toss and elected to bat on another fine Roy
Mayo track.
Openers Wheeler and Yorke attacked from the start and had made 36 in the 4th
over when Wheeler was adjudged LBW for 18, James Scullion and Yorke took the
total to 52 before Yorke was bowled for 17. The Green were scoring at 6 runs
an over but losing wickets at regular intervals. The top seven all made
double figures but none of them made the big score which would enable The
Green to post a total that was defendable and in the end they were bowled
out for 154 in the 34th over with Macklin 5 for 32 doing the most damage
with The Green playing his slow bowling as if he was Shane Warne.
Skipper Spencer made his feelings known to his team about their efforts with
the bat, and urged them to improve in the field. This they did and although
struggling to take wickets they restricted Brockhampton to less than 3 runs
per over for forty overs, but by only taking two wickets they were never
going to be able to force a positive result. It took Brockhampton 45 overs
to reach their target for the loss of two wickets. W Green led the way
with 65 not out as he built an innings which was a good example to The
Green's more cavalier batsmen. All of The Green's bowlers bowled well but
had been let down by the batsmen.
The end of an interesting season where The Green can look back on numerous
games where, with a little more application, they would have finished higher
in the league. Many thanks to all of our matchday sponsors and to Roy Mayo
for his superb efforts on the ground .
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