Barnards Green Cricket Club.Match Reports.

July 30th 2005

Stone vs BGCC Singles After a miserable week weather wise and a wet Saturday morning skipper Ratcliffe informed all that Stone was dry and the game was on. On arrival it was true no water anywhere. Ratters won the toss and decided to bowl and then it started to rain. An hours play was lost and the boys played “Who is my favourite BGCC player” many notable names were mentioned but Matt Brookes took his love of Phil Spencer too far and set off the fire extinguisher scattering the gathered players. Play started with the rain still falling in this now 40 overs aside encounter. Clive “Willow” Churchill was in fiery mood and soon had the batsmen fending off soon seriously fast deliveries and forcing the slip cordon to take three paces back. Morley edged and cut his way to 18 but he left a Churchill exocet that knocked back the middle stump. The mercurial Brookes made way for Doughty (2 – 16) who trapped Batsford in front and then Churchill snaffled two more wickets thanks to the Sanders cleavage and then another stinging catch to leave Stone at 52 for 4. Sanders then replaced the tiring Churchill who had produced his best bowling spell of the season claiming 3 for 29 off ten. Harler's long vigil ended for 22 as Aldridge and Powell struggled to score. Sanders was unluckily not on a hattrick when White failed to gather chances behind the wicket, though not regulation the ‘Singles’ stumper had disappointment written all over his face [this is the last time marker pens will allowed onto the field of play]. Revenge came soon after when yet another fine catch was taken this time Churchill returning the compliment to Sanders. The tail quickly subsided as Brown (2 –16) and Sanders (3 – 20) ensured the ‘Singles’ were only chasing 114 on an easing wicket. Ratcliffe promoted himself to the top of the order and he and Doughty made batting look very easy as they regularly found the boundary with some positive hitting. Ratters took a shine to the spin bowlers and the only surprise was that he holed out with the score on 68 with a personal contribution of 34. Beavan survived an early scare but was soon cutting his way to the boundary as the score raced along. Doughty was tucking into anything full and the 24th over saw him reach his fifty with successive boundaries and then finished the match off with a towering six that had the animals in the donkey sanctuary running for cover leaving his side victorious by 9 wickets. Doughty 59 n.o. and Beavan 24 n.o. ensuring 20 points in the ‘Singles’ quest for league honours.

Hagley vs BGCC 1st XI Bgcc 1st team travelled to Hagley in the worcs div 2 hoping to get their season back on track .With the luxury of two wickets to choose from captain c smedley lost an important toss and the green were asked to bat first but not before a torrential downpour held up play reducing the game to 37 overs a side.R Williams(12) and K Golder(35) started well against an erratic Hagley new ball attack with 53 coming off the first 10 overs before Williams was again run out.Flynn(24) started well in uncompremising fashion until being out thought by Hagley skipper Trinhams smart field settings.Smedley(62 off 44 balls) was then joined by the solid Mark Hooper(21) in a fine stand allowing Drinkwater(20 not out), Jez Clarke(9 and another run out victim) and Tim Williams(14 off 4 balls) to open their shoulders at the end. The Green finishing on a respectable 207 with Trinham(14-1-74-1) and Genner(1-62) the pick of the home bowlers.A fired up T.Williams(2-37) was unlucky not to pick a wicket up with his second ball instead seeing the ball floored at point.A valuable 3 overs were bowled until the Green picked up their first wicket with Williams finally getting his man. Harrison was proving virtually unplayable at the other end (for all the right reasons this week)hooping the ball at good pace.The Green kept picking up wickets regularly with a mixture of good bowling,fine fielding and poor shots from the Hagley batsmen.Find of the season Duncan Bell(11-5-19-3)livened the game up, bowling with good pace and control he consistently troubled all the batsmen. Harry Harrison(3-29) was reintroduced at the other end and with the aid of a stunning catch at third slip by allrounder Jez Clarke removed the obstunent Genner(34) leaving Hagley 8 down but with only another 8 balls nervously negiotiated the Green ran out of overs.Hopefully the Green can now take this much improved performance into their next game which is against Pedmore at North End Lane on Saturday. BGCC 2nd XI vs Hagley After the weeks heavy rain and saturdays morning down pour, It was a surprise to start on time ,but miracle worker Roy Mayo had been hard at work , the outfield was damp and the wicket looked green but well prepared. Spencer won the toss and fielded, Hagley made a brisk start hitting any loose bowling from Spiers to the short legside boundry,Sam Spencer put in an inspired opening spell all the runs he conceded were off the edge through the slips ,at one time he had only two fielders in front of the bat. Phil Spencer replaced Spiers and bowled Treadwell for 31 in his first over.Spencer jnr bowled Hussain for 4 on the final ball of his opening spell. Paddock had Crane well caught at square leg by Tom Clack for 44.Hagley were now 88 for 3 off 19 overs,Tom Clack replaced Paddock and proceeded to bowl a good line and length gaining late movement, he clean bowled the dangerous Allport for 12 and then produced another good delivery to bowl Tariq for 15, his spell was completed with the fine figures of 2 for 10 off 5 overs.Sam Spencer returned to mop up the tail finishing with 3 for 45 off 15 overs,ably supported by Jason Brewer who took 2 for 20 in 7 overs.Hagleys total of 165 seemed to be perhaps 60 runs short, this was down to another good display in the field by the keen young green side.   Derek Goodman and Jon Lewis started the reply with a flurry of boundries until Lewis was given out leg before for 12 with the total on 35,Paddock joined Goodman and they both proceeded to score freely both being severe on anything over pitched.Paddock was caught behind for 30 bringing Tim Clarke to the wicket with the score on 102.Derek Goodman completed his third half century in 4 innings,then together with the fluent Clarke they took the score onto 145 ,Clarke was caught on the boundry for 19.This job of completing the run chase was left to Nic Rogers not out on 10 and the reliable Goodman undefeated on 83.Another 7 wicket victory and another 20 points for the Green. MANY THANKS GO TO MATCH SPONSOR  "P.A. HILL FASTNERS"