July 23rd 2005
Stourbridge Social vs BGCC 3^rd XI A trip to the Black Country for ten man Barnards Green 3rds brought about an excellent all round performance and 16 valuable points.  Arriving at the ground just before the scheduled start due to reasons beyond most players control, Stourbridge Social opted to claim the toss and insert the Green which was something of a help, as changing in rota would have prolonged the start time had the Green been fielding.  Rob Tyler (21) and Dave Knapper (12) got the side off to a solid start against some friendly bowling before Knapper was carelessly run out looking for a second that wasn't there.  He could be excused somewhat as 15 of the Greens first scoring shots were boundaries and running didn't appear to be an early option.  Tyler looked set for a big score, but a leading edge lobbed up to silly mid on and Chris Hill and Neil Hackin had to rebuild the innings.  This they successfully did, Hill showing his usual steely determination and Hackin bludgeoning anything short or overpitched to the boundary.  On 48, Hill uncharacteristically went down the wicket to Hatton and was bowled and soon after Hackin played across the line to a straight one and departed for 47 one of four wickets for Mangun.  Dave Price lifted his foot and was stumped without scoring and at 150 for 5, it was left to skipper Robin Longmore and Graham Spiers to salvage the innings, this they did with Spiers dropping anchor and Longmore (38) finding the boundary at regular intervals nearly decapitating spectators in the process.  When Longmore succumbed to Gardner, Spiers was joined by Jamie Longmore and these two put on a rapid 30 before Jamie was well caught for 16.  Spiers then opened his shoulders and hit an excellent 38 and was well supported by 14 year old Tom Clack who played a mature innings, using up the overs and despatching the bad ball to the boundary with three mighty sixes.  When Spiers finally departed Clack and Simon Ball took the Green to a respectable 266 for 8. After an excellent tea.  Opening bowlers Ball and Spiers both picked up a wicket a piece to put Stourbridge on the back foot.  Bastable and Hatton rebuilt the innings, but the run rate was increasing with each over.  Skipper Longmore turned to spin and Dave Price was unlucky not to hold on to a sharp return catch, but the introduction of Hill saw just reward when he had Hatton caught behind for 27.  Jamie Longmore replaced Price and found a good rhythm dismissing Clarke for 19.  Bastable and Preston then bludgeoned their way back into the game, but not without a great deal of good fortune with Spiers regularly finding the edge but always evading the close catchers.  The introduction of Clack turned the tide as he clean bowled Bastable for 75 and bowled five tight overs for just 22 runs.  Hill was brought back into the fray and picked up four further wickets to finish with 5 for 48 and the Stourbridge innings concluded on 235 for 9.  An excellent performance in a game played in the right spirit, a refreshing change in this era of unnecessary sledging and baiting.  Next week the Green entertain Droitwich Spa at Newland.	Kidderminster Victoria vs BGCC 2^nd XI The green travelled to Kidderminster hoping to continue their recent run of victories which have moved them up to second in the league. Having been asked to bat first the opening pair of Goodman and Lewis put on 31 in 6 overs before Lewis was bowled for 6.Nic Rogers joined Goodman ,he scored freely especially through the cover area until he spooned a catch going for another boundry he had scored 22 of the 30 run partnership with Goodman.Mark Hill who has recentley been coaxed out of retirement started slowly as was to be expected,but soon had the score board ticking with some quickly ran singles[ some would say suicidal ].Goodman was runout when responding to one of these unwise calls for 35.This brought fifteen year old Phil Harris to the wicket ,he quickly showed his intent with a series of drives and pulls,he out scored his senior partner and completed his half century beforte Hill .Harris continued to be severe on anything short or over pitched, eventually Hill was bowled for 72 when trying to up the run rate,their partnership of 140 came in only 22 overs. Phil Harris then completed his maiden century in an innings with 17 boundries ,the power of some of his shots surprised the opposition,but not his fellow green players .Lets hope this is the first of many.[THE FUTURES GREEN]. Harris was finally out in the 49th over for 106,he had taken the greens total to 277 for 5,the greens captain declared leaving Kidderminster 51 overs to reach their target. The opening attack for the green consisted of father and son combination Ian and James Scullion,James bowled his 5 over spell only conceding 5 runs and Scullion snr took 1 for 22 in his ten overs.Sam Spencer took a wicket in his first over,this brought together Brain and Sheriff who began the run chase with powerful shots and quick running between the wickets.At 180 for 2 Kidderminster were wll set for victory,Harris had Brain stumped for 57,this brought Dan Ward to the wicket and together with Sheriff they continued to keep up with the required run rate.Skipper Spencer turned to Brewers left arm spin which proved to be the turning point of the innings ,he bowled the dangerous Ward round his legs for 19.This only brought Cavendish to the wicket,he chose to put bat to ball with devestating effect,it looked as if the home side would cruise to an unlikley victory they only required 50 off 9 overs with  five wickets intact.It was Phil Harris who ran out Sherrif for 109 with another fine piece of feilding.Sam Spencer returned to bowl Cavendish for a well struck 36.The game was evenly poised at the start of the 51st over Kidderminster required 7 runs with 2 wickets remaining.After a discussion between captain and vice captain it was decided that Phil Spencer was to bowl the deciding over,three dot balls were followed by the wicket of R. ward caught behind by Glendenning another dot ball then Burkes was trapped plum LBW on the last ball of the 51st over.A fine victory even if somewhat fortunate,another 24 points for the green.Congratulations go to Phil Harris on his maiden century.
BGCC 1st XI vs Kidderminster Victoria On Saturday Barnards Green 1st eleven entertained Kidderminster at North End Lane and saw their season finally stutter to a shuddering halt after a string of poor performances. Green skipper Chris Smedley again won the toss and was happy asking Kiddy to bat first on a wicket with a tinge of green which looked like it would give assistance to the Barnards seam bowlers. With 60 runs coming from the first 10 overs the Green bowlers made the worst possible start. Smedley switched his bowlers hoping someone would find a line or length. After 25 overs the Kidderminster score had moved onto 150 for 1 with the Green looking down the barrel of huge score.After drinks Paul Drinkwater,who bowled the first and only maiden of the innings in the 43rd over whilst returning excellent figures of 3 for 46 off 14 overs, and Mark Hooper (2-34) put the breaks on the Kiddy innings which finally ended on 270 for 8 with Bilboe(54),D Mitchell(38),Shaw(57) and P Mitchell(31) along with 24 wides and numerous dropped catches the main contributers in a healthy looking scorecard for the visitors. Whilst 270 represented a good fightback by the Green it would still be a challenging total to chase even though hopes were high as the wicket had now seemed to have flattened out . In reply the Barnards innings faltered and stumbled throughout with only debutant Dave White(12), Flynn(20) and Smedley(67 not out) showing any resistance as the Green were bowled out for a paltry 142 in 40 overs with the last 9 wickets falling in just 30 overs. Whilst all the Kiddy bowlers bowled in good areas and swung the ball the Green batters showed little application, thought or determination. In a game where the Green had the best conditions to both bat and bowl in they were again comprehensively outplayed with worrying ease in an egregious performance. A serious improvement in all areas will be needed if the Green are to arrest this current slump in form but with a full squad available a better result will be expected when they travel to Hagley on Saturday.	BGCC Singles vs Hallow The 'Singles' enjoyed a comfortable victory over bottom side Hallow by six wickets thanks to accomplished batting displays from veteran Rob Lewis and the promising Rich Brown. A much changed 'Singles' side from the previous week saw the average age rise by 5 years and some unusual fielding positions adopted to compensate. Hallow won the toss and elected to bat first. Churchill opened with pace and aggression but lacked the direction needed to trouble the batsmen. An unusually vocal Matthew Brookes settled into a miserly groove as serene progress was being made by both sides. Churchill induced Izod into the pull that was easily pouched by Rich Brown but his days work was over when replaced by Doughty. A series of grunts and snarls from our 'Yorkshire lad' bamboozled the batters and when Martel edged, Dick Brown snaffled the chance at deep 1st slip / short 3rd man* [*delete whichever you think does not apply] with the ball millimeters from the grass. Williams soon followed to a well disguised slower ball. Brookes (1 -22) was rewarded for his 12 overs when M White yorked himself. A period of calm joined the proceeding with G White, who after an early flourish with runs and D Brookes were content to wait for the bad ball. White then decided to follow through putting the wicket keeper and close field cordon in a state of anticipation. White's actions were merely a distraction as nothing came of it. Ratcliffe rotated the bowlers and it was Sanders who achieved the breakthrough when Brookes fell plumb in front for 33. A tiring White was feeling the stain of his long vigil although he had pierced the ring early in his innings this avenue was now well patrolled and he perished trying hit over the top cleaned up by Sanders. Hobbs found the boundary in Hallow's quest for quick runs but Rich Brown enjoyed a two over spell getting two wickets and Sanders (3 - 27) made sure that the Green required 170 for victory. Debutante tea ladies put on a superb display of sandwiches and cakes, this came as a great surprise to one of the fathers' because she had never made so much as a cup of tea at home. The Green reply was quickly in tatters as Freeman and Doughty failed to make it to through four overs leaving Robbie Lewis and Rich Brown to build a start and then flourish towards the victory target. Brown was soon dispatching anything full whilst Lewis was content to wait for the short and wide deliveries. Whittenbury bowled his 12 straight through 1 for 44 and Hobbs bowled a tidy line and length. The change bowlers took the brunt of the Brown onslaught as he peppered the boundaries with some fine cricket shots. Lewis quietly accumulated his runs and was first to fifty with a vicious pull through mid wicket. Brown quickly followed with a thumping straight drive and the pair were in sight of the victory target. The returning Hobbs then snared Brown with one that slightly left the batter, but Rich Brown's fine knock of 63 added to the 134 run partnership had taken his side a long way towards victory. The incoming Dick Brown was in a rush to finish off the match splaying the ball to all parts and the party was spoilt when Rob Lewis was trapped in front by the innocuous Hobbs for 63. This only briefly delayed matters as Brown whipped the ball through the onside to secure the six wicket victory.