|
On sunday, Barnards Green 2nds entertained Kidderminster
on a warm and sunny afternoon on a pitch that would have graced the county
circuit. Can there be many better grounds around at the present
time? Kidderminster won the toss and elected to bat first and got off
to a cautious start against some accurate bowling from Chris Hill and Jon
Lewis, as the openers started to look set, Lewis produced a peach to bowl
Barrett for 37 with the score on 54. Under 15 Adam Price was then
introduced to the attack and after an initial flurry of fours, inspirational
skipper Marek Wajzer tinkered with his field and Adam bowled an excellent
spell of 9 overs for just 39 runs picking up the valuable wicket of Thomas,
superbly caught by the acrobatic Hill. At the other end, Sherliker
bamboozled the batsmen with his leg spin and trapped opener Rowden for 31
LBW. Amos and Kimberlin then built a partnership hitting anything
overpitched to the boundary despite some excellent fielding on the short
legside boundary by Dave Price who bravely played despite numerous injuries
and was obviously sponsored by Tubigrip. After 45 overs Kidderminster
had amassed 265 and Hill and Sherliker both picked up 3 wickets a piece.
A rather pleasant tea obviously then took its toll as the Green slumped to 23
for 4 off 13 overs with Webb picking up 3 wickets. Hill (20) and
Sherliker (36) then built a partnership taking the score to 79 before both
fell in quick succession. Skipper Wajzer was then joined by Robin
Longmore and some slick running brought the added bonus of two 5's from
overthrows, but both batsmen struggled to time the ball early on in the
partnership. Longmore then cut loose and with 6 sixes and 4 fours
Kidderminster started to get a little concerned until Webb produced a perfect
yorker just as the 100 partnership was reached. Dave Bayliss failed to
trouble the scorer and Skipper Wajzer (31) was then bowled leaving father and
son Dave and Adam Price to put together a useful last wicket partnership with
Dave finishing on 25no but the Green fell short of their target by 41 runs in
an entertaining encounter.
Many thanks to sponsor John Pugh Hairdresser for his continued
sponsorship. Next Sunday the Green will visit Worcester.
|
On a beautiful sunny May
morning, the pre breakfast prediction was that ''This game is gonna be
remembered for a long long time'' could not have been more true!!
unfortunately twas not due to the massive century Clarke J was GOING to score
but for other far different reasons. On meeting at North End Lane a long
debate on who was going to administer the second trip of the weekend to
Kidderminster was definitely the turning point of the fixture!!!! Drinkwater and the reluctant Golder set
off for Chester road as the last kit bag was crow barred into Flynn's bullet
mark 2! Thanks to the ever reliable
Radio Wyvern traffic and travel the city centre was diverted via junction 7/6
of the M5 much to the bullets despair ! On exiting the motorway a call of ''we're in trouble here lads''
was not what the top 3 of the batting line up wanted to hear!!! Much steam,
smoke and sweat later Flynn and Hooper returned from the 3 pears public house
with 4 litres of water in hope of quenching the thirst of the Steamy Bullet.
Unfortunately the H2O flowed on to the A4440 as freely as it did into the
header tank, and it was left to the RAC to pick up the pieces, not before
suspected opener Clarke had taken a diversion of his own over the crash
barrier cheekily avoided the stinging nettles only to slice his head open on
an illuminated road sign!! Meanwhile the toss had been lost at Chester road
and thankfully the sporting Kidderminster side had put the 7 strong Green
side into bat, with Golder Drinkwater and Clarke amongst the top 3 there was
every chance their duration at the crease would outstand that of the RAC
response. Meanwhile back on the A4440 the RAC had arrived at the heavily
blooded scene and after a trip back to Malvern for backup transport and a
visit from Ericksons recovery, the remainder of the team finally made there
way to Kidderminster, continual phone contact was made and the news of the
top 3 being knocked out cheaply shortly followed by Brookes and Tyler made
the next 12 miles a little nervous to say the least. Whilst 5 wickets
down Brown and Plant steadied the potential last wicket excellently as the
remainder of the team pulled up to see the Green 70 for 5 Flynn strapped the
pads on no sooner as plant paddled one to square leg. Unfazed by the goings
on of the previous 2 hours Flynn scuffed his way to the wicket and bludgeoned
a careless 60 meanwhile Browns patient innings came to and end on 38 and the
wounded Clarke came and went without bothering the scorer finally Flynn
succumbed to the lengthy boundary leaving Williams not out, with his 3rd
drive to Kidderminster of the Weekend being the most exciting by far. A lengthy
tea which saw the demise of Palace, Southampton and Norwich the Green Took
the field with Last years Champions Chasing Just 178 in 45 overs.
Kidderminster made a shaky start with Williams beating the bat several times in
the first over, Brookes supported well and took a wicket in his second over
and the green perked up somewhat, unfortunately Llyod looked in good form and
continued to make the most of some tired underpar bowling, Golder did his
best in mixing up the bowling. Although Brown, Drinkwater and J Clarke all
did there best to make in roads into the Champions attack..... they
didn't The highlight of the innings
was Brookes flying catch at cover off Browns bowling his only disappointment
was the recognition of his capture in no way resembling that of a Bigmac!!,
surely he would must have known croc would never have let go of such a
thing!! The low light was Drinkwater dropping Llyod caught and bowled twice
in consecutive balls as he reached 50 only to haul out shortly after due
towhat could only be described as boredom. The heads dropped as each following batsmen found the boundary
with ease and the first league game of the year was wrapped up in the 23rd
over. On what was a mixed day for Golders Chavs the lads can only leave this
day behind them and look forward to next weeks home game against big rivals
Worcester where the organisation discipline and ability can only improve.
|