Barnards Green cricket Club

BARNARDS GREEN CRICKET CLUB

MATCH REPORTS

26th April 2014 - Match Report.

Oswestry vs BGCC 1sts

Barnards Green fall short in run chase

Despite a good overall bowling display led by Jon Dovey’s 5-31 BGCC lost their opening game of the season against Oswestry.

Following considerable rain the outfield was slow but the game started on time. Oswestry won the toss and chose to bat even though it was quite overcast. Openers Fynn and Carrasco struggled against the swinging bowling of Tim Williams and Alex Hepburn. Oswestry had reached 25 when Hepburn had Carrasco caught behind by keeper Ash Brewer for 15 then in his next over he trapped the dangerous Joe Clarke lbw for 0.

Fynn and Huxley made steady progress interrupted by two short rain breaks. The Green turned to spin with good effect. First Captain Andy Ford had Fynn caught by Hepburn on the mid-wicket boundary for 28 then Birmingham League debutant Jamie Tapper trapped Huxley lbw for 33. But it was Jon Dovey in his second spell that did the damage. Robbie Clarke could only watch as Dovey removed 5 of his partners. Dovey’s first victim was Overseas Papier – clean bowled for 18. Then he had both Hale (8) and Morris (0) caught by Ash Brewer in one over – the first of which was a stunning one hand diving catch to his right. In his next over Dovey sent Coleridge’s stump tumbling as Oswestry were left 136 for 8 with 8 overs remaining. Clarke and Robinson had added a further 24 when Dovey grabbed his fifth wicket with the final ball of his 10 overs – bowling Robinson for 6. Opening bowler Williams returned to action and finished the innings in the 47^th over when Clarke (26) gave Brewer his fourth catch of the day.

Barnards Green started with the full 50 overs knowing they needed 161 to win or to be ahead of the 3.2 run rate should the rain return. Openers George Rhodes and Adam Dovey kept the scoreboard ticking over at a decent rate against the pace of Bowen and spin of Robinson. After a wayward first over it was Papier who broke the partnership when Rhodes was caught by a diving Fynn at mid-off for 29. Papier struck again – trapping Hepburn lbw for 6 – leaving BGCC 64 for 2 in the 21^st over.

Dovey fell next caught behind by Joe Clarke for 12. Captain Andy Ford took 12 off Fynn before Fynn got revenge in his next over as he was clean bowled for a quick 15. Play was interrupted for 15 minutes by rain and the winning target was adjusted to 157 off 49 overs. The rain break didn’t help the Green as two quick wickets fell when play resumed. Mark Hooper (5) was caught by Fynn off Robbie Clarke before Fynn himself trapped Elliot Hennessy lbw without scoring.

The pitch seemed to give added help to the spinners as Fynn bowled Ash Brewer for 6 and Jon Dovey (1) fell lbw to Robinson – leaving BGCC 100 for 8 in the 32^nd over. With darkening skies and the threat of more rain the calculators were out for the run rate just in case. There were plenty of overs but not enough wickets left for the Green. Tim Williams fell next for 6, caught by a diving Papier at mid-off to give Fynn his fourth wicket. Hopes lifted as Jack Mackintosh and Tapper made steady progress but were dashed when Tapper clipped one to Fynn off Bowen for a creditable 22. This left Mackintosh 5 not out and the Green 25 runs shot of victory. Next week BGCC 1^st XI play host to Smethwick.