15th May 2010 - Match Reports.

After beating Old Vigornians CC in the knockout cup the evening before thanks in part to a rapid 97 from Andy ‘Jack Attack’ Wheeler and some smart bowling by Rich ‘Croc’ Brown, the Green second eleven arrived at a sunny Belbroughton CC in good spirits. Skipper Judd Doughty finally won a toss that mattered and opted to bowl on a used deck which looked remarkably white for mid-May.

Brad Adams (14-2-48-2) bowled with genuine pace down the hill and had the batsmen hopping around with some deliveries which leapt from the pitch with real venom including one which hit Boardman square on his grill. The first wicket fell thanks to a dropped return catch to Adams who spooned it into the stumps and ran-out Hawker. Tom Clack (7-0-24-0) shared the new ball and bowled with good control up the hill. The fast outfield and short straight boundaries proved good value for the batsmen but the Green fielders did their best to put their bodies in line to prevent too many boundaries being conceded. James ‘I am fast’ Scullion (7-2-29-1) took over from Clack and immediately found some swing making life difficult for the batsmen. Wickets fell at a steady pace throughout the innings, although for each wicket a run-out chance and a half-chance of a catch kept the fielders excited, then Jack Cullity (4-024-0), making his second team debut, took over from Adams. Cullity bowled some excellent balls, making the batsmen grope and graft for their runs, and he set the standard in the field with some confident, cool- headed fielding. The spin twins of Hooper (11-0-52-4) and Drinkwater (7-0-24-0) took over and did what they do best, slowing the scoring rate by picking up regular wickets as the batsmen looked to hit over the top of the infield against bowlers who had seen it all before. The home innings closed on a below par 205 for 9 in their 50 over allocation.

Doughty (13) and Wheeler (55) opened the innings and both began the counter attack with a succession of boundaries off what looked like a depleted home bowling attack. Wheeler took a liking to both the bowling and the short boundaries by clubbing, chasing and crashing a succession of fours and sixes. The introduction of Hawk (17-2-55-1) slowed the rate slightly as his clever off-spin proved accurate and hard to time. Doughty perished to Stokes playing a loose shot to an even looser ball. Wheeler continued his onslaught spreading the field far and wide before falling to Hawk whilst Tim Clarke (17) worked the ball around and rotated the strike before he fell to one that kept a little low from Spells. Greaves (55) and Drinkwater (7)combined in an attempt to steady the ship but Drinkwater, lacking his usual fluency, chipped the ball to mid-wicket after a 30 ball stay. Hooper (6) joined Greaves who was playing with his usual calm assurance and the runs required rate steadily fell. Hooper got off the mark with a six but fell next ball repeating the same shot. Clack (10) entered the fray and immediately pierced the attacking field with some punchy flicks and drives whilst supporting Greaves who was looking good on the back-foot, especially off Hawk whom he played particularly well. Clack perished, bowled playing across the line and the Green were making hard work of this run-chase. Scullion (21*), batting at 8 – showing the strength of the side, supported Greaves for the final push.  The winning runs were duly scored and the Green picked up their first win (20 pts) of the season. Special credit must go Adams and Hooper who bowled excellently and Wheeler, Greaves and Scullion who all batted efficiently in their vastly contrasting styles. Well done team!! Next week we entertain Coombs Wood.

Barnards Green travelled the short distance to Hanley Castle looking forward to good weather and a full day’s cricket after two rain-affected weeks.

Following a spirited team-talk by Dick Brown, Chris Horne took his first catch of the day, hanging on to the teddy which TA had just thrown out of his pram and with Dominic Horne vowing to out-score Andre Russell over the course of the season The Green looked "up for it"!

The Green bowled first, opening with their now familiar three-pronged attack of Elliot and Georgia Hennessy and Jack Mackintosh. The opening batsmen, Chambers and Wate struggled against an impressive show of swing bowling and movement off the pitch, and whilst Mackintosh had, by his own high standards, an off-day and pitched rather too short, the Hennessys were at times unplayable.

Elliot claimed the first two wickets, clean-bowling Wate for a duck and then trapping Finlayson lbw for 6. Georgia Hennessy had Albert smartly caught by Chris Horne in the covers for the first of her two wickets and then bowled Lewis without him troubling the scorers. When Skipper Dick Brown introduced his slow bowlers, Dave Price and Steve Hunt into the attack the home team crumbled, eventually finishing their innings on just 74 runs with Price taking 5 wickets for just 6 runs and Hunt leaping like a salmon to take a sharp caught and bowled.

This never looked like being a defendable total and Green Captain Dick Brown showed confidence in his young players opening the batting with Jack Mackintosh and Dominic Horne. Horne was aggressive from the start, hitting a number of boundaries before being caught for 17 whilst Mackintosh (1), continuing his rare off-day, was bowled by the experienced Ian Hobbs. Georgia Hennessy joined Robbie Lewis at the crease and both looked untroubled until Lewis (10), having recovered from a stressful pre-match team-talk with his skipper was also bowled by Hobbs. It was left to Julian Hall (21no) and Georgia Hennessy (10no) to see The Green home for a comprehensive win  by 7 wickets.

Congratulations to both sides for continuing to have confidence in their youngsters and for a game played in the best spirit.

BGCC 3rds vs Hanley and Upton 1sts