Barnards Green cricket Club Match Reports.

April 17th 2005

Barnards Green vs Tewkesbury

This was an unsatisfactory day’s cricket, with an exciting

Barnards Green Saturday 1^st XI started their 2005 campaign on Saturday, playing host to Tewkesbury. After a week of drama surrounding the Greens overseas player Chris Smedley and his team were glad to be finally getting onto the field! Having gained promotion to division 2 last season the Green are looking forward to another successful year. With the club strengthened by some new arrivals things are looking very promising. On a typical Aprils day with showers through the night, the game was forced onto the artificial. This was only made possible by some sterling work on the outfield by groundsman Roy Mayo. Green skipper Chris Smedley won the toss and elected to give his batsmen some time in the middle. Rich Williams and Paul Drinkwater formed a new look opening partnership and put the Tewkesbury bowling to the sword from the start. Both fell in quick succession, Williams just short of 50 and Drinkwater having just reached his. Smedley looked in excellent touch hammering boundaries all round the wicket, including 1 huge six! Having reached his 50 in very quick time he retired hurt. Kevin Golder and Mark Hooper then joined forces. Golder looked in awesome form playing some strokes of unbelievable power, passing 50 with ease. Hooper, on his debut for the Green stroked the ball around well allowing Golder to continue his onslaught. He took 24 off the penultimate over and 15 off the last! The Green closed on 268 for 3 off their allotted 40 overs.

In reply Tewkesbury were never able to get into the game. Openers Tim Williams and Steve Metcalfe applied a stranglehold. Despite a number of dropped chances the Green quickly had Tewkesbury 3 down. Jez Clarke after a shaky start then settled into a good rhythm and picked up a couple of wickets and Mark Hooper, bowling with good consistency picked up 3. Tewkesbury never really threatened to get close to the Greens total and Williams(3-10) returned to claim the final wicket and bowl Tewkesbury out for 141.

The Green can be well pleased with their performance, despite the need for a great improvement in the catching. They complete their early season friendlies tomorrow with a trip to Birmingham League, local rivals Worcester CC. Thanks go to Roy Mayo for getting the game on after heavy overnight rain and Donna Smedley for providing both teams with a superb post match meal.