Barnards Green cricket Club Match Reports.

June 11th 2005
BGCC 1^st XI vs Malvern CC	Malvern CC vs BGCC second XI
Barnards Green welcomed Malvern to North End Lane for an eagerly anticipated local derby. With the Green flying high in second spot and Malvern having beaten Netherton last week it promised to be a good battle. With the coin landing favorably for Malvern on the rock hard surface skipper Dave Arnold, in the knowledge of having only 9 men at the ground carefully considered his decision. He then choose to ask the Green to bat. The Green made a solid start with Rich Williams and Paul Drinkwater confidently finding the boundary. However as the ball became older and Malvern’s bowling became tighter, through the introduction of Jez Lee, the Greens runs dried up. Williams (37) and Drinkwater (46) fell either side of the prize scalp of Flynn without scoring. Skipper Chris Smedley and Tim Clarke quickly followed, both to smart work from Arnold behind the stumps. Throughout the mayhem of tumbling wickets Kevin Golder stood firm, striking boundaries to all parts of the ground. This included 1 pulled six over long on. Binks, Sanders, Hooper, Tim Williams and Harrison were all unable to find much form but did provide support to the in form Golder, who finished on 65 not out. The Green closed on 187 for 9, a below par score but one which gave the Green hope of victory. Needing early wickets a fired up Tim Williams and Chris Harrison charged in at the Malvern batsmen and were rewarded when Williams trapped Arnold and Cox leg before and Harrison clean bowled Baugh with the score on just 1 for 3. Francis and Dovey soon follwed leg before to Harrison and Jez Lee was well caught at 2^nd slip by Rich Williams, to give Harrison his 4^th wicket and left Malvern in turmoil at 29 for 6. Luke Halion then dug in and set about trying to rebuild the Malvern innings. However Harrison (5-21) then trapped Carter leg before as well for his 5^th wicket to leave the Green within touching distance of victory. Anthony Arnold soon followed, again to another good slip catch from Rich Williams, off brother Tim’s bowling. Halions’ resistance was then broken when he was bowled by Williams (4-34) to leave Malvern 58 for 9. The final pair managed to strike some boundaries as Smedley turned to spin as his seam pair tired. However Flynn’s flight enticed one big hit too many and Smedley took a comfortable catch to the joy of the on looking Barnards Green crowd. Malvern were bowled out for 87 to give the Green a 100 run victory and 24 points. Thanks to match day sponsors Automated Packaging Systems. Tomorrow the Green travel to Bromyard for a top of the table clash. The Green lie just 6 points behind at the top of division 2, a massive 60 points clear of Belbroughton in 3^rd place.	The seconds travelled the short distance to local rivals "Malvern?",on a hot humid day the green lost the toss again and were asked to bat first.Judd Doughty 10 and Jon Lewis 13 put on 30 for the first wicket,Andy"jack" Wheeler struggled to time the ball and was out for 27 Liam Paddock was looking good until he was decieved by a slower ball for 13,Phil Harris was looking in good form until he was bowled by Thompson for 19.The only decent partnership was between Rob Middleton 48no and Lewis Hooper 27,they added 67 for the 7th wicket both striking the ball cleanly especially Hooper on his return to his old club.The green ended up at 184 for 8,probably 30 runs short of a good total. After a wieght watchers tea,the home side started their reply, Ian Walwyn was first to go caught behind off Paddock for 10 Cullen soon followed for 9 and Thompson for 4, 50 for 3 after 15 overs the green were in with a chance,there then followed a match winning partnership of 136 between the patient opener Tom Grove 53 no and former green player Dan Besgrove 77no,Besgrove was in fine form and struck any loose delivery to the boundry.Malvern won by 7 wickets in the 47th over ,the green must learn to bat in partnerships and post a decent score when asked to bat first. All the young green bowlers did them selves justice,but giving away 33 extras of which 26 were byes does not help the cause.Malverns expierienced side sit on top of the league, a position the greens youngsters should aim for!