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Badsey vs BGCC 3rd
XI
The Singles kept a
useful lead in Division 4 by beating second-placed Badsey by 5 wickets.
Badsey had youth and agility, but the Green had deeper batting and bowling.
In all, 15 wickets fell on a docile track, with both sides guilty of inept
strokeplay.
Kevin Ratcliffe won the toss and watched Churchill and Hill beat the bat
without reward, while the Badsey openers took any chance to drive at a full
length. Westmacott was badly dropped twice. Fresh tactics were needed, and
Ratcliffe conjured a double breakthrough in fine style. First he posted two
gullies to cut off Powell’s loose but powerful square drives; Hill kept the
required tight line, and Powell lost his off stump. Then he introduced
Metcalfe’s medium pace and immediately caught Westmacott (31) at point.
The match pattern was now set as batsman after batsman made a fair start but
succumbed to a flail or an edge. Justin Macmillan had Nick Powell well
caught at slip, but then took some punishment: Mabbett was aggressive from
the start, and Thompson used his height and a long stride intelligently.
Metcalfe’s cutters undid them both. Now Ratcliffe, missing two regular
change bowlers, made another key decision. Steve Beavan, despite sore
tendons and a bowling arm even lower than usual, struck four times as Badsey
revealed a young and weak middle order. Skipper Dave Powell remained 21 no.
Chasing 182 and aware of nearby rainstorms, the Green started steadily but
then produced some deplorable shots. Freeman cut a wide long hop straight to
deep point, and Ratcliffe lobbed a feeble pull to midwicket. Jamie Curtis,
with part of his mind on his wedding speech, made room to force a slow
Powell lob; Dave White was determined to reach another one on the full; both
made no contact and were embarrassingly bowled. The remaining Singles began
to fret and pad up, but finally Metcalfe and Paul Yorke showed some sense,
taking simple runs and waiting for the many bad balls and extras. Thompson
showed plenty of fire but his inconsistent line was expensive. The umpires
were strict throughout and gave lavish wides.
Yorke, still in glorious summer form and atoning for sloppy work in the
field, swept and drove contentedly as the last 50 runs arrived with fewer
alarms. Metcalfe played within himself for 24 no. The Green finished early,
avoided the heavy rain, and earned 20 points.
Badsey 182 all out (42.4 overs; S Beavan 4-15); Barnards Green 186-5 (P
Yorke 80 no)
BGCC 4th XI vs Vine
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Astwood Bank vs BGCC 1st XI
This first meeting between Barnards Green and Astwood
Bank in the Crusader League Div.1 saw Greens captain for the day, Tim
Williams, win the toss and choose to bat taking advantage of a firm dry
wicket and good conditions overhead. Liam Paddock, called into the first
team squad to open the innings with Kev. Golder were faced with some
hostile quick bowling by Astwood Bank’s overseas player Andy Lidiard,
well supported by Ian Bowes. The Green lost two early wickets
Kev. Golder (8) and Paul Drinkwater (4) which ment Rob
McCard found himself in to bat much sooner than normal, joining Liam
Paddock on (3no).Together they
set about
stabilising the innings, taking the score steadily to 83 by the 25th
over when Liam paddock was bowled by Ian Bowes for (27). An excellent
debut performance.!! The fall of this third wicket saw Tim Clarke enter
the fray, joining Rob McCard now on 32 no. Together they pushed the team
score up to 115 by the thirty-first over when Rob McCard pushed once too
often, and was out stumped on (54). A great effort.!! Adam Binks was
next in, and with Tim Clarke produced an excellent 50 partnership in
quick time before Tim Clarke (38) was out bowled by Andy Lidiard in his
second bowling spell. Adam Binks made a rapid 20 and Phil Harris a three
hit (14) as the remaining wickets fell regularly until Barnards Green’s
innings closed on 202, in the 48th over. The reply of
Astwood Bank got off to a slow start against the bowling of McCard,
Williams and Bell, but did not loose a wicket until the thirtieth over
when opener A. Clayton (75) was out caught Kev. Golder off the bowling
of Andy Ford, another young player on debut in the first team, who’s
excellent off spin bowling kept a tight grip from one end, returning
figures of 12 overs , 4 maidens, 31 runs for 1 wicket until the 38th
over, when with the Astwood team score on 136 for 2, the Green captain
elected to return to his opening pace attack. Although taking two
wickets quickly, this move did not have the overall desired effect as
Astwood Bank’s middle order batsmen, in turn, accelerated the scoring
rate, taking them to a winning total of 203 runs by their forty-sixth
over. Scoring 66 runs from 48 balls. This was a keenly fought game,
played in the right spirit, unfortunately lost this time. Better luck
next time.
Astwood Bank
--------- 20 points
Barnards Green
-------- 5 points
BGCC 2nd XI vs Astwood Bank
Barnardsgreen entertained Astwoodbank with an unusal look about their
lineup, the team had be revamped to cover first team call ups, holidays and
illness.On winnig the toss the green opted to bat first, Brewer was first to
go in the second over for 4, Jon Lewis looked to be in prime form
despatching any thing loose to the boundry, Derek Goodman at the other end
struggled to time anything and had to settle for a supporting role,Goodman
was second out with the score on 97 for a hard fought 24, Jon Lewis followed
in the next over for a fluent 53, Thompson looked in fine form until he
holed out for 11, this brought Lewis Hooper to the wicket to form a
partnership with Mark Haffield who was incouraged to come out of retirment
to help the team. Haffield started steadily then increased his scoring as he
became more acustomed to the bowling, Haffield was eventually out for a fine
81 containing 12 fours and a six , he together with Hooper put on 110 for
the fifth wicket in 17 overs, Hooper was out for a fine 44 putting the green
in a strong position,Andy wheeler smacked a quickfire 29 and Tom Clack
stroked an impressive 26 notout , at 304 for nine in the 49th over skipper
Spencer decided to declare giving Astwoodbank 51 overs to reach their
target..
Astwood bank lost their first wicket when Jagielski was superbly caught by a
diving Spencer in the gully off the bowling of Tom Clack, Thomas was joined
by Boycott this pair found the young opening bowlers to their liking and had
taken the score to 65 for 1 after ten overs , Hooper and Spencer were
brought into the attack to try and slow the scoring rate this was achieved
but still the green failed to make a much needed breakthrough , Brewer
replaced Hooper and although going at seven an over ,he decieved Thomas
bowling him for 43 , Prior joined boycott and proceeded to play the
supporting role as Boycott progressed to a chance less century, a fine throw
from the deep by Clack ranout Boycott for 109 , Brewer then had Davis and
Harris well caught on the boundry by spencer , with 4 overs remaining
Astwood bank required 30 with five wickets left ,Spencer caught and bowled
Freeman for 30 then had Hancox stumped by Longmore, with one over left
Astwood ban needed 13 runs with three wickets remaining Prior was dropped
off the first ball hit the next for 6 then was involved in a mixup with
Wadsworth who was run out , then with 3 runs needed for victory hit a six
off the last ball of the 51st over to give Astwoodbank victory by 2 wickets,
Prior finished up with 71no. Phil Spencer bowled 20 overs taking 2 for 58 to
go with his 4 catches, but it was not enough to make up for his decision to
declare and give the visitors an extra over. Astwoodbank gained 24 points
and the Green 7.
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