26th June 2010 - Match Reports.

With a number of changes to their usual line-up enforced by family commitments The Green travelled to Tenbury, the prospect of a hot afternoon ahead of them. To the relief of his team Dick Brown won the toss and batted, looking to subject the opposition to an afternoon of leather chasing and to take best advantage of a pitch that might not last for two innings. Ewan Wilson opened the batting with Graham Baddley, returning for his first game since last year against a Tenbury attack of Messrs A and G Edwards. From the off Baddeley showed his intentions as he smashed Edwards (A) through the covers numerous times for a series of boundaries. The younger Edwards (G) struggled at first for line and length but found form in his fourth over, bowling a series of maidens and restricting the flow of runs. Wilson (5) hit several classy  shots before, not for the first time this season, chasing a wide delivery and being caught at slip. Nick Pett, a product of the long established “Wajzer Academy” joined Baddeley, and after a cautious start runs started to flow freely. Tenbury, seemed unaware that Baddeley only scored on the offside, an oversight which allowed him quickly reach his 50 and the pair took The Green’s total to 101 before Baddeley (61) was bowled by Giles in the 20th over. Much was anticipated from young Dougie Howie as he made the long walk from the players’ balcony to the middle to join Pett. Howie calmly lobbed his first delivery back to the safe hands of Ian Taylor and trudged off. The walk back to the pavilion seemed much longer. Joined by Robbie Lewis, not known for his free-scoring, Pett tried to force the pace but as the bounce of the pitch predictably got lower and lower he was undone lbw to Taylor and finished on a fine 34. Skipper Dick Brown, rapidly gaining local recognition as a batsman, took the lead as Lewis struggled at the other end. A series of quick singles did however see Lewis to a total of 13 before he was  bowled by Giles. With the score on 137 after 35 overs, Tenbury’s opening bowlers returned. A series of lusty blows from Brown which included two sixes contrasted with the equally powerful but more technical approach of Chris Hill and this pair added 54 runs before Brown (34) was caught. With just two overs remaining Dave Price was promoted to support Hill and to “pinch” a few more runs where possible. Price struck two boundaries to bring the Green’s total to 205 with him finishing on 8 not out and Hill 30 not out off their allotted 45 overs.

Feeling confident in their batting strength Tenbury emerged from tea to chase down the win but when Jack Macintosh shattered Taylor’s stumps to send him back to the pavilion for a duck and then also clean-bowled Sellars in quick succession it was apparent that scoring over 200 on a dying pitch would be difficult. Tenbury’s task was not helped by the nagging line and length bowling of Chris Hill who was, as always, difficult to score off. For the home team Thompson and Hunt looked solid as Barnards Green’s skipper swapped his bowlers around looking for a breakthrough. Eventually Hill picked up the well-deserved wicket of Thompson (24), to finish with impressive figures of  1 for 19 off his 12 overs.  Steve Hunt  found genuine turn as he accounted for Higgins and James, both cleaned bowled and Robbie Lewis picked up the wicket of Ingram to further increase the pressure. For Tenbury, D Hunt, who had already spent an afternoon behind the stumps, now had the task of salvaging something from the game but with support  running out a draw was the best he could hope for. Nick Pett took a fine return catch off his own bowling to give The Green their seventh wicket but, unable to dislodge the stubborn Hunt (52 not out) the visitors had to settle for a fine winning draw and 17 points as Tenbury finished on 143 after their allotted overs.

 

Stourbridge CC 1^st XI v Barnards Green CC 1^st XI

Still without West Indian star Andre Russell who is still currently involved with the West Indies A team BGCC continued their good form with a well fought win against Stourbridge. After losing the toss on the hottest day of the season so far the visitors were forced to toil for their first breakthrough which eventually came in the 11^th over with Williams capturing the wicket of Bradley. William’s seam partner Harris bowled some loose deliveries in his initial spell and eventually finished with 1-50(10). Smedley was introduced and was initially expensive often serving up a boundary from the last ball of his over. Steve Game was the star for the home side and initially gained support from the talented Banks before he was brilliantly caught by Rhodes at slip off the bowling of Smedley, who pegged back his figures to finish with 3-58. Game made a superb 71 before he started to run out of partners and it took sensible batting from Patel and Matt Bradley to guide the tail to a competitive 205. 

After much needed re-hydration the visitors missing Paddock, Russell and Clarke from their usual top 6 set about chasing down a tricky target despite a quick outfield and perfect batting conditions. 

Openers Rhodes and Hooper got the Green off to a solid start both cracking 3 boundaries in the first 10 overs. Hooper fell to a high full toss for 27 with the score at 48-1. Golder (5) and Tim Clarke(0) fell in quick succession and it was left to Harris (27) to provide steady support to Rhodes who reached a well made 50 in the 19^th over. With the demise of Harris and Rhodes struggling to force the pace against the spin of Banks(4-73) and Patel it was left to Smedley to inject some much needed impetus into the innings with a brisk 17, his cameo getting the chase back to run a ball manageability with 8 overs to go. As Rhodes found an extra gear Binks struggled to provide the same impetus as Smedley and was out for 11 leaving Rhodes(104) to complete the chase with the aid of his skipper Williams. Still with work to do Rhodes brought up an excellent century and Williams was brutal with 2 clubbed boundaries leaving him 12 not out and completing victory with just 3 balls to spare.