|
Rain was unfortunately the winner as the Green
visited local rivals Worcester Nomads attempting to close the gap on league
leaders Pershore. Upon winning the toss under grey skies Tim Williams
elected to bowl with his decision immediately vindicated as he and Murphy
extracted pace and movement from the pitch. Murphy bowled an impressive 12
over spell finishing with 4 wickets. Rees batted well before giving his
wicket away for well compiled 56 and the spin of Ford again reaped rewards.
The home side were bowled out in the last over for 169.
At the resumption of play Gariff and O’Driscoll made life difficult for
Golder and Rich Williams (playing his final game for the club) thwarting any
possible fairytale ending for the elder Williams brother capturing him for
11. Golder and Rhodes started to look at ease with 18 overs gone and 56 runs
on the board however as predicted by club stalwart Phil Spencer the rains
came with no sign of any let up and the game was abandoned with the Green in
the driving seat. This week the 1st XI travel to Bromyard.
Worcester Nomads 169 Rees 56
BGCC 1st XI 56-1(18 overs)
|
On a day when the players
attention was focused as much on John Kettley’s weather forecasting skills
as it was on the cricket it was never likely that a complete game would be
possible. What cricket was possible proved entertaining and enthralling for
all of those playing and observing.
Home skipper Judd Doughty lost the toss and was asked to bat by the happy
looking Nomads skipper who felt that the green tinged wicket would, under a
leaden sky, enable his bowlers to swing the ball to great effect. As Doughty
and his partner Jon Lewis strode to the crease the sun came out and the
clouds dissipated, making the track look more golden than green and the
smiles of the visitors soon turned to frowns as Doughty (47) took 30 off the
first two overs of the innings. Lewis (0) lost his off stump in the fourth
over before Paul Drinkwater (13) and then Doughty quickly followed after
playing bright and breezy knocks. James Curtis (23) played some attacking
shots to bowling which started wayward but slowly got better and better
throughout the innings before he too perished. Lewis Hooper (33) played some
delightfully expansive shots and was looking very dangerous before he was
amazingly stumped via the bottom edge and crease-line. Tom Clack (22) played
the off-spinner well mixing elegant pushes with clever clouts whilst ably
supported by the newly shorn James Scullion (33). Ash Brewer (2) got a good
‘un which brought the all-round talent of Matt Brookes (30) to the crease.
Only a couple of weeks ago Brookes had been pencilled in as a makeshift
opener and now found himself batting at number ten. Aware of the game
situation Brookes mixed stout defence with lusty, long-handled blows, which
frustrated the visitors no end and ate into the overs available. Sam Spencer
(11) joined the fun, proving he must be one of the better number eleven’s in
the league before the innings closed on 230 all out in 46.5 overs.
The second innings began with the sun packing away its’ deckchair and
putting on a raincoat as a vast weather front, keenly spotted by amateur
meteorologist Curtis, appearing over the hills as Spencer ran in to bowl.
Only 11 overs were possible with both teams trying to manufacture something
out of the increasing gloom. Doughty put his spin twins of Hooper and
Drinkwater on in the fourth and fifth over in a desperate attempt to get to
the 25 over mark whilst the Nomads batsmen ran, slid and swam every
available single until all present agreed the rain had proved the overall
victor.
Both captains agreed after the match that the game would have been close, as
it had been in the first encounter but John Kettley and his devious
low-pressure systems got the better of all (apart from our rivals Astwood
Bank who, having been off for rain at least once, got back onto the field of
play long enough to obtain a winning draw). There’s now only one point in it
at the top of the table and a much changed Green side entertain the talented
Belbroughton club this Saturday.
|
