Barnards Green cricket Club Match Reports.

31st May 2003

Teme Valley vs Barnards Green Singles Barnards Green completed their first match of the season and emerged victorious by 53 runs in a very high scoring encounter with Teme Valley. Bathed in glorious sunshine skipper Steve Freeman was delighted when his opposite number asked the Green to make first use of what appeared to be an excellent batting strip. Freeman and Genever were both watchful against the new ball and started steadily building a platform for a big score. With the score at 49 Teme Valley made their first bowling change and Burgoyne immediately had Genever caught at point for 20. Beavon came in and immediately set about the bowling and then Freeman became Burgoyne’s second victim for 28. Beavon became his third soon after for 28 and the Green were rocking at 79 for 3. There now followed a stand of 185 between Dave White and Andy Wheeler both played themselves in and then unleashed an onslaught of epic proportions. Wheeler was first to pepper the boundaries with shots all around the wicket his fierce cutting and driving was scorching the lightening outfield and soon Teme Valley had every man on the fence. White had been more circumspect and survived two dropped catches and certainly made them pay when he found the middle of his bat. He joined in the fun smashing boundaries for fun as the scoreboard numbers were whizzing so fast a light breeze drifted across the ground. Wheeler was now going arial to elude the fielders and White deposited two balls in an adjoining field. Their eighteen over onslaught was brought to an end when White fell to catch in the deep for 82. Confusion on how many runs Wheeler needed for a century denied the batsman a deserved ton. Spencer, believing he only needed one more run, took a quick single but then could not relinquish the strike leaving Andy Wheeler stranded on 97 not out, though the scorebook had not registered all of his sixes. Barnards Green posted a formidable 296 for 4. With such a mammoth total on the board the Green attacked from the start. Even though the board was ticking over the wickets fell as well, Brown was soon amongst the wickets aided by some brilliant close catching and his opening burst yielded three wickets and at 81 for 5 the Green looked in control. Mezzone chanced his arm as Freeman rotated the tiring bowlers and he started to pepper the short boundary, Burgoyne joined in the fun and the pair added 92 rapid runs. The Green went on the semi defensive and a brilliant display of fielding by youngster Phil Harris saved many a boundary as he covered all of one side of the wicket. Burgoyne fell for 47 but Bainsford took up the challenge and with 86 required off 16 overs with four wickets in hand Teme Valley sniffed a chance. Once more Freeman rotated his bowlers, bringing back the fiery Churchill and taking the pace off the ball with wily campaigner Spencer. This did the trick, Churchill softened up Mezzone before having him caught behind for 71. Spencer deceived Bainsford (21), the final two wickets quickly followed as Churchill 3 for 79 and Spencer 2 for 14 mopped up, Brown’s earlier spell of 3 for 39 had put the skids under Teme Valley as they were 243 all out and the Green victorious by 53 runs. DOMINIES & GUILD II v BARNARDS GREEN II THE Green 2nds finally managed to complete a league game as the sun shone on Worcestershire last Saturday. The Dominies fielders and bowlers made a good effort in the heat dismissing Brookes, Curtis, Bell and Sherliker before the score reached 100 but opener Brian Hancock gave the innings some direction with a series of powerful straight and on drives. Coming in at number six Chris Hill gave him good support after an uncertain start and the score rose rapidly over 200. As the pair accelerated and the bowlers wilted, a huge score looked likely until skipper Dick Brown took pity on the fielding side and declared on 252-4 after 47 overs. Hill (62no) and Hancock remained undefeated at the end of a partnership worth 155 runs, which saw Hancock complete a chanceless century, which included 15 boundaries. Dominies made a rapid start in reply but the opening bowlers Bell and Brookes responded to dismiss Humphries and M Loines as the scoring slowed. Sherliker and Fletcher bowled tidy spells as the home side reached the 100 mark in the 26th over, still a long way short of their daunting target. At this point Brace started to take control playing a range of correct cricket shots and timing the ball well. He rode his luck as a number of difficult chances were spilled by the fielders and was assisted by the bowlers, who provided too many chances for easy boundaries. Duncan Bell was brought back into the attack and worked up a good pace to clean bowl McDonald and Gammon after Fletcher had made the break through by running out Loines for 30. With six wickets down the Green now looked favourites but Brace and A Ford had other ideas and although Hill finally bowled Brace for 93, Ford took Dominies to a well deserved victory with three balls remaining. Bottom of Form Main Index

Barnards Green 1^st X1 vs Dominies and Guild Last Saturday saw Barnards Green welcome division 3 newcomers Dominies and Guild to North End Lane on a beautiful afternoon. On winning the toss Green skipper Rich Williams choose to bat after some careful consideration. The Green started badly on a good pitch losing Jez Clarke leg before without scoring. The new ball provided plenty of movement but Dan Flynn joined Rich Williams and the pair started to consolidate well. Both played in an attacking fashion and when Williams hoisted the first 6 of the innings over mid wicket the hundred was bought up in the 20^th over. However he fell to the next ball, caught behind. Paul Drinkwater played some attractive shots in providing support to the increasingly fluent Flynn. However Drinkwater, Smedley and Tim Clarke all fell in quick succession leaving the Green on 167 for 5 after 36 overs. Rob Richards joined Flynn and after taking some time to settle in, struck the ball firmly to all parts of the boundary. Flynn remained exquisite in his stroke play and completed his first century for the Green. Richards completed an impressive maiden 50 before falling to a good catch on the boundary to leave the Green on 281 for 6 after 48 overs. Flynn still had time for an audacious hoisted six over mid wicket and closed on a magnificent 143 not out, containing 21 fours and a six. The Green closed on an impressive 295 for 6.Wilks and Price started the reply in positive fashion. On a very easy paced wicket Rich Williams soon turned to a change of pace. Tim Clarke bowling his first spell of the season ripped the heart from the Dominies top order with a superb display of bowling. Varying pace and length and gaining considerable movement the batsmen found him unplayable. Leg spinner Jez Clarke also chipped in with 2 wickets and when Tim Clarke picked up his seventh Dominies found themselves 85 for 9. However youngsters Hill and Lewis played some excellent shots and raised some respectability. However Tim Williams returned to clean bowl Lewis and dismiss Dominies for 131 and take a maximum 24 points. The Greens fielding was again superb and rounded off a superb team display. The Green moved up to fourth place . Thanks to match sponsors Clarke Roxburgh. Barnards Green 3rd X1 vs Worcester On Saturday, Barnards Green 3rds were at home to Worcester in a match played at the delightful Newland ground on the first decent day of the cricket season. Put in to bat, Worcester started steadily with skipper Dave Tyrer looking to punish any bad balls whilst Munir struggled somewhat to find his timing, but managed to evade his stumps and the fielders. Liam Paddock bowled an excellent spell and was unlucky to finish with just one wicket off his 8 overs for just 24 runs and Mike Genever also bowled very well flighting the ball excellently and being unphased when carted to the leg side. However, it was the introduction of seasoned campaigner Rob Lewis who made the breakthrough bowling Tyrer for 27 and the dangerous Roger Weston for 4. Munir battled away for a resolute 67 and Chris Oakley made an accomplished 67 with youngster Liam Weston adding a useful 21 before being bowled by Rob Tyler. Worcester’s innings concluded on 224 for 5 which the Green believed they should reach if they applied themselves properly. Sadly this did not happen and with a mix of bad luck and poor strokes, the Green found themselves at 139 for 9 despite an excellent 27 from Jonathon Lewis who once again fielded very well and a sparkling 23 from Roy Mayo. With 10 overs remaining and only one wicket to fall, Worcester were looking forward to an early pint, particularly when they saw number 11, Emily Price striding to the wicket to join 16 year old Rob Tyler. With just one over remaining and Emily having creamed the bowling for 21, there were some fevered brows and chewed nails on the Worcester team. However, the brave reintroduction of opener Graham who had struggled to find a line and conceded 11 wides, to his credit he produced a peach first ball to dismiss Emily for 21 leaving Robbie on 9no having put on 37 for the last wicket. An enjoyable game played in a good spirit and at long last some sunshine! Many thanks to match day sponsor Malvern Electrical Wholesales.