Barnards Green cricket Club Match Reports.
June
25th 2005
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Harborne vs BGCC 2nd
XI |
Badsey vs BGCC Singles |
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On saturday the green seconds travelled to
Harbourne.After two days of heavy rain and more looking immenent prospects of
play did not look very good.Thanks to the valient work of the home groundsman
play was only delayed until 3pm,the game being reduced to 37 overs per
side.Skipper Spencer at last won a toss asking the home side to bat first on
a very firm but damp pitch.Opening bowlers Sam Spencer and Phil Harris were
encouraged by the extra bounce the pitch was providing Harris in particular
bowling unplayable deliveries.Both were unlucky not to take more than one
wicket.Opening batsman Adams rode his luck going the ariel route to the very
short boundries after 12 overs Harbourne were 56 for 2.Lewis Hooper was
introduced and immiedatley caused the batsmen problems,he had Adams well
caught by Paddock for 52 then caught and bowled Sahi for 2.This brought
Gear to the wicket ,normally playing in the Birmingham pemiere league he
chose this game to make his comeback from injury.He proceeded to stroke the ball
effortlessly to all parts of the ground.Captain Spencer chose to allow him
the single and frustrate him,this worked and for a period of 10 overs the
green only conceded 18 runs,Phil Harris then ranout Gear for 54 with a fine
piece of fielding.The Harbourne innings petered out and after thier 37 overs
they finished on 167 for 4, a better display of fielding by the young green
side,Lewis Hooper bowled exceptionaly well to finish with figures of 2 for 40
off 11 overs. After a very sparse tea Jon Lewis and Jason Brewer
started the reply hungry for runs Lewis was severe on anything pitched up
,after 5 overs the opening pair had compiled 56 runs,first to go was Brewer
caught pushing back a ball he should of given the full treatment,Lewis was
second out for a well struck 41,this only brought together Mark Hooper and
Liam Paddock who continued to put the home bowling to the sword.Hooper was in
fine form striking the ball cleanly,Paddock was keen not to be over shadowed
and struck numerous boundries in his 36no, the green reached their target in
the 18th over with Mark Hooper 66no after another fine innings.Another 20
points for the green BGCC 1st XI vs
Harborne Barnards Green 1st XI
welcomed Harborne to a damp looking North End Lane on Saturday for a rain
reduced Crusader Worcestershire County League division 2 clash. Thanks to sterling work from groundsman Roy
Mayo the game was able to go ahead despite heavy rain overnight. The start time was put back 30 minutes to
allow further drying time and Harborne won the toss and invited the Green to
bat in a 46 over encounter. The
Greens opening batsmen Rich Williams and Gary Lewis again started well. Williams in particular was severe on
anything short and again passed an excellent 50. Lewis soon followed him to 50 before falling to leave the Green
130 for 1. Williams continued to
accelerate but was eventually caught behind for 74. Daniel Flynn watched several partners come and go as the Green
looked to hoist their run rate.
Flynn, survived an early chance to register another unbeaten fifty
(70no). The Green closed on a
respectable total of 249 for 5 off their 46 overs. In reply Harborne got off to a
good start with Tim Williams and Chris Harrison failing to consistently put
the ball in the right areas. However
Williams eventually struck, removing the opening batsman leg before. Flynn then managed a superb direct hit run
out to leave Harborne 50 for 2. All
the Greens bowlers struggled for consistency and lacked a real threat on a
pitch offering movement to the bowlers.
However, the Green showed another superb fielding display and were
able to keep Harborne down below the scoring rate required. Williams returned to the attack to pick up
2 more wickets and effectively end the Harborne run chase. However further loose bowling meant the
Green never really closed the game out.
Some kamikaze running and Chris Harrison returning to take 2 quick
wickets led to an exciting finish.
However, Harborne were able see the final overs through and closed on
215 for 7. The Green will be looking to
improve their bowling performance but on a day when most other promotion rivals
were rained off or lost points the Green again managed to extend their lead
at the top of the league to 25 points.
Tomorrow the Green travel to Netherton for what promises to be a tough
game, looking to again maintain their strong hold on the Division 2. Thanks to match sponsors Classic
Drives. |
The ‘Singles’ trip to league
newcomers Badsey saw them escape with a winning draw in a match they should
have come closer to winning outright but were equally close to losing. Badsey pulled out all of the
stops to play the match, carpets were rolled on to the wicket in an effort to
mop up surface water, these carpets were then rolled onto worn pitch ends for
protection. As it was an hours play was lost and the match reduced to 40
overs aside. There seemed little point in skipper Ratcliffe tossing up (yet
to win one this season) and yet again the opposition had first choice. The
Green was batting. New opening pairing of Freeman
and Doughty knew that early survival was paramount if the team was to post a
half decent score. They were watchful in defence as the low slow wet wicket
made scoring difficult. Freeman played two crackling sweep shots to give the
innings impetus followed by Doughty crashing successive drives through the
offside to keep up a reasonable rate. Badsey rotated their bowlers but failed
to trouble the opening pair who were building the innings nicely. Freeman
severe on anything short and Doughty driving anything pitched up had the
Captain scratching his head. He settled to allowing Freeman the single and
opting to bowl the majority of balls at Doughty. Doughty now opened up as the
wicket eased and peppered the boundaries with an array of fine attacking
shots bringing up fifty with another fine drive. With the score on 98 he
perished in the deep for 54. The impressive D Powell ended Metcalfe’s brief
flurry and Freeman was then run ragged by Beavan as the Green looked to up
the rate. Freeman passed his fifty but perished LBW to Powell when swinging
across the line, as quick runs were needed. Beavan and Curtis were undone and
it was left to a bludgeoning Rich Brown to wield his mighty blade to really
press home the good start. Two mighty blows had the gathering wedding party in
a nearby marquee dashing for cover. His 27 set the tone for the remaining
five overs as White took the mantle with some aggressive pulling, despite his
wrist strain, and his 28 saw the Green through to an improbable but
impressive 203. With the lure of wedding cake
for tea but Freeman quaking when seeing the pig roast being set up and opting
not to eat the apple presented to him. The Bride looked a babe, according to
Perce, whilst Brooker wanted to know how he would recognise the Bride. As it
was the invites didn’t stretch to the Cricketers and traditional fayre was
supplied. Whatever was in the tea didn’t
do the Green catching any good what so ever. Badsey replied with a shot a
ball; Matt Brookes was dispatched to the fence twice in his first over but
revenge followed in his second when Hardwick lofted a catch to Ratcliffe.
Cowley came to the wicket and adopted a more orthodox approach but would have
a trash at least once an over. The Green now proceeded to put down chance
after chance after chance after chance after chance. Cowley benefited on each
occasion as Badsey suddenly had their sights on victory. Ratcliffe rotated
his bowlers but despite the chances the runs continued to flow. Hammon made
serene if unspectacular progress. Despite the drops the ground fielding was
holding up well and with the run rate hovering between six and seven an over,
most fielders were posted far and wide. Rich Brown saw Cowley smack him for
two enormous sixes that had the gathering guests scattering in all
directions. Doughty came into the attack and immediately had Hammon (39)
snapped up by Metcalfe and suddenly the Green had found their hands again.
Brown (3 – 46) snatched two quick wickets and then dangerman Cowley launched
another hit off Brown but this time Matt Brookes took off on the Long off
boundary to take a magnificent two handed catch high above his head to see
Cowley depart for 104. Westmacott struck four rapid boundaries but his
attempts were ended with some good fielding from Spiers to run him out. Four
overs thirty runs and four wickets proved too much for either side, the Green
sniffed a glimmer when Doughty (3 – 42) snatched two in two balls but the
remaining batters held out as Badsey finished on 184 for 8. There is no truth in the rumour
that seven Green players dropped their drinks in the Badsey clubhouse. Dave
white has asked that it is his Birthday bash next Saturday to celebrate his
forty years. |