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This return fixture, between Barnards Green
c.c. and Alvechurch c.c, .in Div. 1 of the Crusader W. C. L. got off to a
prompt start in spite of rain clouds threatening every few minutes. Chris
Smedley the Green’s Captain won the toss and inserted Alvechurch. This
proved to be a good move as they made a very hesitant start on a damp
wicket, losing four wickets in the first fourteen overs for only 48 runs.
The first of these taken by Kev. Downs, in his second over. This success,
being quickly followed by two quick wickets by Tim Williams and yet another
by Phil. Harris in his first over. Three of these falling to excellent
catches by Liam Paddock, Andy Ford and Tim Williams. Alvechurch’s J. Rose
and R. Mortimer steadied their innings, but could not score freely, arriving
at a team score of only 116 runs by their thirtieth over. J. Rose (42) was
the next to go, to another great catch this time by Paul Drinkwater off the
bowling of Andy Ford. Runs always seemed hard to come by as wickets
continued to go down, one more to Andy Ford and Two in one over by Chris
Smedley. All these via. well taken catches by Chris Smedley, Kev.Downs and
Phil Harris. Alvechurch’s innings closing on 185 for 8 as the threatening
rain finally arrived.
An early tea was taken, and in spite of much work on the ground to get play
restarted, it was 6-15pm before the Green ‘s reply could get under way. This
loss of batting time to weather left only 25 overs to attempt to get 99 runs
to earn, first a winning draw then if all went well 186 runs for an outright
win. This seemed a tall order, but Rich Williams and Kev. Golder got the
innings off to an excellent start, scoring 83 by the 14th over, when Rich.
Williams fell to a smart catch off the bowling of Alvechurch captain Simon
Smith. This brought in Phil Harris, up in the order to take advantage of his
fast scoring abilities, to join Kev. Golder, who together quickly secured
the winning draw total by the 17th.over. Encoraged by a good vocal crowd of
supporters both batsmen hit out, scoring 81 off the remaining 42 balls to
take Barnards Green to their first out right win of the season at home. Kev.
Golder finishing with 65,while Phil.Harris got 58 off the 34 balls he faced.
Well played the batsmen, but this was a determined all round team win. The
fielding was great and so were the bowling performances.
Barnards Green ------------- 20 points
Alvechurch ------------------ 3 points
The next match is away against Eastnor on the 26th August
Starting at 1-30pm |
With cloudy skies and rain forecast for late afternoon phil spencer won
the toss and asked Alvechurch to bat first on a very damp wicket, opening
bowlers Duncan Bell and Sam Spencer bowled straight and were rewarded with
early wickets , after 18 overs the home side were 50 for 3, there then
folowed a partnership by Pritchard and Sidaway which took the total onto 146
in the 36th over, wickets by Hooper and Scullion slowed down the run rate ,
and when Roger Thompson and the returning Spencer set about bowling the
final ten overs the game could of gone in favour of either side, Spencer
bowled a superb spell of 14 overs taking 4 for 27 and Thompson finished off
the innings by taking the final 2 wickets, Alvechurch were allout for 230
mainly due to Pritchard who made exactly 100, this total did not look like
being enough on the Alvechurch small ground which is reknown for high
scoring games, but we will never know as during tea the heavans opened and
the match was abandoned with both team gaining 9 points.
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