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Barnads Green C C First
Eleven travelled to Bewdley C C for their first meeting, only to be greeted
by an over cast sky and light drizzly rain at this picturesque riverside
ground. The rain prevented play starting on time at 1-30 pm, but eventually
at 3-30 the rain stopped and it was agreed to play a reduced, 33 overs /
innings match to start at 4-00 following an early tea.
Bewdley’s captain M. Bowden won the toss, asking the Green to make use of
the damp wicket, wet outfield and poor visibility. B G C C openers Williams
and Golder got away steadily, producing an opening partnership of 38 runs
before Kev. Golder fell to Bewdley’s overseas player ( J. Boult of New
Zealand ) for a hard earned score of 12 runs. Captain Chris Smedley joined
Richard Williams who together pushed the team score along to 71 off 15
overs, at which time Richard was caught behind by M. Cowdery off the bowling
of M. Harris for a well earned 32 runs of 36 balls. Rob McCard and Tim
Clarke in turn, joined their captain to continue to push for runs under
difficult conditions. Rob was given out surprisingly L B W on a score of 23
to a whispered appeal by Boult. Chris and Tim carried on fighting hard for
runs until Chris Smedley was bowled by Harris for a solid 24 of 41 balls.
Adam Binks came in to join Tim who together battled on until, with the team
score At 122 for 4 in the 27th over, ( three runs short of the first batting
point ) the rain returned, and it surprised everyone when the umpires
immediately called a halt to proceedings. Five minutes later with heavy rain
now falling, the match was abandoned as incomplete.
Bewdley 5+1 Bowling point = 6 points Barnards Green 5 points
Score Card Barnards Green
R> Williams Ct. Cowdery b Harris 32
K. Golder b Boult 12
C. Smedley b Harris 24
R. McCard L. B. W b Boult 23
T. Clarke Not Out 14
A. Binks Not Out 8
Extras----------------------------------------9
TOTAL 122 for 4 Wkt.
Did not bat. M.Hooper, P. Drinkwater, T. Williams,
J. Clarke and D. Bell.
Next Match Astwood Bank at Home North End Lane
20th May 1-30 pm start.
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Rain frustrated the thirds in their quest for successive victories. Skipper
Kev Ratcliffe, 15 44, won the toss and elected to field. The wide
bright crease markings obviously dazzled Churchill along with his wide
fitting new boots because he was the only one getting the runs column moving
on the scoreboard. Doughty then had a snick taken by Beavan and then
Churchill fired home a straight one Belbroughton were 5 for 2. Belbroughton
consolidated as the miserly Doughty bowled a succession of maidens and
Churchill found his line. Meanwhile Beavan was having a torrid time behind
the stumps thanks to the inconsistent bounce and took to wearing his inners
as socks as he thrust boot after boot at the ball. As Belbroughton looked to
up the rate Doughty (10-4-11-2) induced Scriven (16) to play on and when
Burrows opted to leave one Churchill (2 – 26) clipped the bails. Hooper
joined the attack and sought fitness through a lengthy spell. Two wickets in
two balls saw Belbroughton reeling at 41 for 6 and they left the field as
the rains came. An early tea was taken and several overs lost. A swarm of
bees flew over the ground and Steve Beavan indicated that he could not keep
bees either. On the resumption Belbroughton had a further 18 overs. They
opted for crease occupation and slowly the score crept upwards. Hooper took
a third wicket (3 -18) but Buss (21 no) and Edwards blocked their way to 81.
Brown took two wickets off the final two deliveries of the innings to give
the Green a fourth bowling point. The Green innings saw Doughty brilliantly
caught second ball but Beavan (19 no) dispatched anything short and Yorke
stroked the ball around as they set about scoring the required runs. With
rain falling Yorke perished for 7, knowing that it was to be the final ball
before they were off for rain he thought he could hit the winning runs? The
players promptly left the field. Despite a break in the rain Belbroughton’s
lack off sawdust meant the bowlers felt the run ups were not dry enough and
as the players waited for them to become dry enough the rain returned to
scupper any hopes of a Green victory giving the Green 9 points to
Belbroughtons' 5.
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Barnards Green 4th
XI’s progress in the Cup competition was unfortunately thwarted by
thunderstorms on Saturday at Newland, after the game was set up for an
exciting conclusion. After a good first session, the game was abandoned
without the minimum number of second innings overs being bowled, and will be
replayed later in the season. Winning the toss, Knighton took first use of
the wicket, and had reached 208-8 off 44 overs when thunder, lightning and
heavy rain forced the players off for an early tea, and an early conclusion
to the innings. R.Cadle top scored with a hard-hit and largely aerial 60,
ably supported by several members of the Knighton middle order who chipped
in with useful knocks. The Green’s young trio of seam bowlers R.Tyler
(1-41), J.Scullion (2-56) and T.Banks (0-25) once again impressed in the
early part of the game, and Knighton were never able to cut loose. I.Alley
(2-25) and J.Longmore (1-40) kept the pressure on with wickets during
mid-innings, while skipper I.Scullion (2-13) bowled a masterly spell at the
death. The bowlers were well supported by some energetic fielding and
several spectacular catches in the outfield. Due
to the break for rain, the Green faced chasing a revised target of 190 off
40 overs, and progress proved extremely difficult on a treacherously wet
pitch. With the score on just 25-1 after 13 overs, the rain teemed down
again leading to the game being finally abandoned, to the frustration of
both sides. |
