Barnards Green cricket Club Match Reports.
 
 

 

 

 


May 21st  2005

Hagley vs BGCC Seconds
Hallow vs BGCC Singles

Barnardsgreen 2nds travelled to  the picturesque cricket ground sited in the shadow of Hagley Hall.Once again skipper phil spencer won the toss ,with the clouds giving signs of more than the light showers forecast Hagley were invited to take first knock on what turned out to be a slow but true wicket.The normally economical opening bowlers for the green were struggling, anything short was dispatched to the boundry by the experienced Crane, who in partnership with Treadwell had added 67runs by the end of the 10th over. This was the signal for a change of pace,Lewis Hooper's offspin had the disired effect his 11 overs cost only 30 runs also taking 4 priceless wickets,with the help of Liam Paddock 2 for 25 and young Tom Clack 1 for 20 the green reduced the homeside to 163 allout.Only Crane 77 and Treadwell 31 making any worthwhile contributions for the home side.

Set 164 to win off 39 overs due to rain interuptions it was important the green made a good start.Judd Doughty and Jon Lewis provided the start required amassing 89 for the 1st wicket before Lewis was harshley given out LBW for a solid 37,Doughty followed in the next over for 43 continuing his gradual return to form. This left Liam Paddock and 2nd team debutant Jason Brewer to steer the green towards Hagleys total.The pair had taken the score calmly along to 133 before Brewer was stumped for 17,this left the teenage pairing of Liam Paddock and Lewis Hooper to ease past the Hagley total with 7 wickets inhand.Paddock finished the innings with a chanceless 46 not out.Another 20 points gained by a the greens young side.

 

BGCC 1st XI vs Hagley

Barnards Green entertained Hagley on Saturday at North End Lane looking for a fourth straight win and to maintain their good start to the new season.  Chris Smedley won the toss and with the weather showing signs of potential disruption had no hesitation in asking Hagley to bat first.  Tim Williams and Ian Scullion started accurately but were unable to force a breakthrough.  Williams managed to draw a number of edges all of which eluded the 3 awaiting slips.  However when the ball deflected off Smedleys leg at 1st slip the Hagley batsmen attempted to take a single and Adam Binks quickly swooped and with a direct hit at the bowlers end inflicted the first wicket.  Soon after the rain came and left Hagley 52 for 1 after 15.2 overs.  Heavy rain followed and left the outfield under an inch of water.  However, sterling work from the ground staff for 90 minutes got the ground playable.  With the game reduced to 26 overs Hagley were left only 11 more overs to bat.  The Greens bowlers all worked hard but Hagley managed to find the boundary a number of times and closed on 141 for 4 off 26 overs. 

In reply the Green lost Rich Williams early.  However Daniel Flynn and Paul Drinkwater paced the innings well and found the boundary regularly.  Flynn reached his 50 with a huge six which cleared the stream over long on.  Drinkwater soon followed him to a very gutsy 50, finding more and more fluency as his innings went on.  However Drinkwatwer fell with the Green 3 short of victory and this left Flynn and Golder to see the Green home with more than 3 overs to spare. 

This win leaves the Green 11 points clear of Bromyard and 30 clear of Netherton in 3rd place at the top of Division 2 of the Worcestershire League.  Tommorow the Green travel to Pedmore and entertain Nomads on Bank Holiday Monday, looking to maintain their lead at the top.  Thanks to match day sponsor D. W Stokes General Builder, Powick.   

 

The ‘Singles’ made the short trip to Hallow and in a rain interrupted match acquired maximum points with a 73 run victory.

Skipper Ratcliffe lost the toss and was asked to make first use of a mottled looking wicket with tinges of yellow and brown amongst the bare patches. Wheeler smacked three boundaries in the first over to get the ‘Singles’ off to a flyer. The bowlers then made use of a very up and down strip and scoring was difficult. Wheeler departed to one that lifted and followed him for 13. Freeman and Curtis made steady but unspectacular progress. They continued to play in the light drizzle, steady fall and the first clap of thunder saw Curtis back in the pavilion. The score stood at 46 for 1 after nineteen and with the rain lashing down prospects looked bleak. With some watching the FA Cup final the more intellectual members opted for a game of Call my Bluff that I will share with you now. Percy rang the bell and up came XANTHOUS. The three options are a. A Greek holiday resort, b. A shade of yellow or c. A type of shrub. The answer lies in this report. Meanwhile back in the pavilion an early tea was taken and inspection after inspection followed. With most convinced the match was off One Hallow player left and skipper Ratcliffe felt that the ‘Singles’ would be disadvantaged having already used 19 overs. Freeman argued that a score of 100 would be difficult to reach and persuaded Ratters to go for a result. On the resumption the Green had ten more overs of their innings and Hallow had two less men. The onslaught started immediately Freeman lost his stumps for 20 bringing Metcalfe to the crease. He dispatched the ball to all parts, three fours off the first three balls saw Stratford pull up injured and his replacement fared little better as those three balls went for nine. Metcalfe’s four over blast yielded 39 runs. Curtis continued to knock the ball around and Sanders hit two mighty blows and departed leaving White (20 no) and Curtis (35 no) to see out the remaining overs. Excellent running from the pair coupled with some lusty hitting saw the Green through to a more than repeatable 150.

After all of the rain the xanthous patches on the pitch had gone, along with the spitefulness. Hallow came out determined to knock off the runs. Brown and Spiers struggled to hit the track as the openers were pinging full tosses to all parts. It took an inspired piece of fielding to make the breakthrough. With many appealing for LBW Mellor set off for a run and Metcalfe arrowed a direct hit to have the opener trudging back. Brookes continued to hit out but Brown finally pitched one and removed off stump. Hallow kept up with rate but Brown struck again to send back White. Hallow never consolidated their position going for the runs at every opportunity and it took an excellent catch from Ratcliffe to dismiss Wooler giving Brown his third wicket. Beavan replaced the luckless Spiers and quickly had the skids under Hallow. His four overs destroyed the batting claiming three wickets for 10 runs. With two players having left the match and one injured the Green bowled Hallow out for 77 to gain the maximum 24 points.