|
The second meeting of
these two teams in the Crusader Div. 1 of the W. C. L. got off to a damp
start as pitch preparations were hampered by frequent rain showers.
Barnards Green won the toss, and invited the home team to
make first use of the damp wicket, that looked as if it would be tricky to
bat on. This proved to be the case as Droitwich lost their first three
wickets for only 25 runs by the ninth over. Two of them taken, by Tim
Williams, and the other by fellow opening bowler Kev. Downes. The loss of
these quick wickets brought together P. Bryan and overseas player D. Gariff
who dug in to resque the innings with dogged determination, raising the
score to 115 by over 32 when D. Gariff on 28 was caught by Chris Smedley off
the bowling of Lew. Hopper, on debut, in the first team. Two further
wickets fell quickly one to Chris Smedley the other a run out to a smart
piece of fielding by Phil Harris. leaving Droitwich Spa on 134 for 6 in over
37 of the 49 allocated. Things looked promising for the Green at that
juncture, but S. Walsh joined P. Bryan, still there on (55no) who together
launched an attack on the bowling taking the score quickly onto 179 before
Bryan was out to a good catch by Phil Harris (that man again) off the second
spell of pace bowling by Kev. Downes. S Walsh was joined by G. Thomas and
they continued to attack until by the close of their innings, Droitwich had
amassed 229 for 8.
The Barnards Green reply
can only be described as disappointing, to say the least, as they slumped to
5 for 34 in their opening 13 overs. A.Van Vuuran from South Africa doing the
main damage, with 3 for 17 in 7 overs. Liam Paddock and Phil. Harris found
them selves together and took a grip. Both playing impressive innings,
especially, for batsmen in their first seasons at W. C. L. Div 1 standard.
They took the score to 102 by over 29.building a partnership of 68 valuable
runs, before Liam Paddock was run out trying for an unsafe second run. Phil
Harris (29) was next to go, leaving Paul Drinkwater (15), Tim Williams (9)
and the tail to try and hold out, but the task was too great against the
high quality spin of D Gariff who finished with 4 for 30 to leave Barnards
Green on a loosing score of 141 all out for second time this bank holiday
weekend.
Droitwich Spa ----------------- 24 Points
Barnards Green ---------------- 3 Points
Next match
at home against Bromyard on Sept. 2nd starting at 12-30pm.
|
The bank holiday fixture between the Green
and Droitwich, provided a good opportunity for the Green to build on the
excellent win on Saturday and continue their march in mid table of the
Crusader Worcestershire Cricket League 2nd XI Division One.
Droitwich won the toss and decided to let the Green bat first with increment
weather all around the Malvern Hills. This proved a correct decision with
Lewis out in the second over and the reaching 50 in the 17th over. All the
batters struggled against the miserly spin of Woodward (17.5 overs, 4
maidens, 70 runs, 6 wickets) and P Thomas 31 runs from 12 overs. The Green
were all out in the forty third over with only 167 on the board. Spencer 45,
Dave White 29 and James Scullion 19 the only batters to make double figures.
Droitwich got off to a solid start with 61 off the first 10 overs.
Cartwright punished any loose deliveries and reached the boundary with
regularity to score 53 from 41 balls. With none of the Green bowlers able to
stem the flow of runs Droitwich reached the total of 168 in 29.4 overs for
the loss of 5 wickets. Ian Scullion was the pick of the Green with 10 overs
3 for 37.
This was a disappointing loss for the Green who had remembered the art of
winning over the last few weeks, and will want to get back on the winning
habit with their next fixture away at fellow mid tablers Bromyard
Chainwire vs BGCC 3rd XI
Barnards Green secured their second successive Division 4 title with
this hard fought victory over Chainwire. Skipper Ratcliffe invited Chainwire
to have first use of a very damp wicket but saw his bowlers struggle to make
any impression on the opening pair. Chainwire calmly and serenely built a
substantial opening partnership of 70 runs until Hill induced an edge from
Davies who departed for 34. With the showers all too often rushing across
the ground conditions under foot were not ideal and the ball became slippery
as the Green’s fielding lacked its normal snap. Brown dismissed Tovey and a
rising delivery drew blood from Stewart’s mouth. This only inspired the
batter to pummel the attack to all parts. Thompson took a fine running catch
to dismiss James for 45 but it was Stewart who was to plunder the bowlers.
He was fortunate to survive a very easy catch at mid off when R A Brown
inexplicably turned his back on the ball claiming that the sun was in his
eyes, we are still investigating this claim considered it was a heavily
laden sky with rain clouds all around! Stewart went on to 73 aided by
Cadwallder 20 to post 209 runs.
Doughty and Yorke continued their impressive run-making season to give their
side a solid start; both were circumspect but quick to capitalize on
anything over pitched. The dangerous Meese bowled an impeccable line and
length and although wicketless his twelve overs went for 39. With rain
clouds now threatening and the Green behind the required rate the Yorke went
for some very big shots and passed fifty yet again but after smashing two
sixes he was undone by one that kept low and went for 65. Doughty also
passed fifty but was caught in the gully for 60 well compiled runs. R W
Brown was just starting to find the boundary regularly until Will struck for
third time seeing a brilliant close catch by Davies and when Curtis perished
the Green still needed 56 runs off 9 overs. The wise heads of Chris Hill and
Steve Freeman ensured that there would be no panic as they calmly rotated
the strike and Hill in particular dispatching any wide and short and when
Freeman perished playing only 14 runs were needed, Hill continued to score
freely and his 39 not out gave the Green the victory by five wickets and the
league title once more.
|
