31st May 2008 - Match Reports.

BGCC 1st XI vs Oldswinford Barnards Green 1^st XI recorded their first victory of the season on Saturday, after inflicting a crushing defeat on fellow newly promoted team Oldswinford at North End Lane. For the first time this season Chris Smedley was successful at the toss and with a soft wicket after the midweek rain had no hesitation in asking Oldswinford to bat first.  Matt Shimell and Matt Brookes soon had the visitors in deep trouble.  Dave Hayward chipped Brookes to Drinkwater at mid on before Shimell struck twice in an over.  He first had Holloway leg before then Attwood snicked to the reinstalled Binks behind the stumps to leave Oldswinford on 4 for 3 after 5 overs.  Fradgely and Blunt were then able to stage a slight recovery.  Fradgely chanced his arm and struck the ball cleanly whilst Blunt was more watchful.  The introduction of spin duo Andy Ford and Smedley then saw a further clatter of wickets.  Smedley with excellent flight accounted for Blunt clean bowled and Ford had Fradgely stumped superbly by Adam Binks.  Worse was to follow for Oldswinford as maiden after maiden form the ‘spin twins’ totally suffocated the flow of runs. Smedley then bowled Holloway to start a final collapse which saw 6 wickets fall for 13 runs as Ford moved in to mop up the tail.  He finished with magnificent figures of 5-25 off 14 overs and Smedley with more than respectable figures of 13 overs, 2-32.   Oldswinford closed on 94 all out. In reply Rich Williams looked in fine touch striking a number of attractive off side boundaries.  Liam Paddock also looked to be finding top gear before he fell to a soft shot with victory in sight.  Phil Harris joined Paul Drinkwater and struck 2 straight sixes and when Drinkwater hit a straight four in the following over the Green registered a first league win of the season with over 20 overs to spare. The Green can be well pleased with another good performance as they continue to find their feet in division 1.  They have moved up to fourth place and on Saturday travel to Pershore with a second victory of the season very much in mind.

Lye vs BGCC 2nd XI After winning the toss the green asked Lye to have first use of a well worn wicket, on his return from injury Sam Spencer turned over his ankle on his first delivery he had to finished his over off a shortened run up, he managed to swing the ball sharply so was asked to bowl the next 11 overs finishing up with figures of 2 for 25  taking the important wickets of M Borley 16 and J Clifford 17, John Diegham on his second team debut bowled a tight line and was unlucky not to take at least a couple of wickets finishing up wicketless but only conceding 22 runs from his ten overs, Lewis Hooper gained exceptional turn from the worn pitch taking 3 quick wickets before losing his line and becoming expensive, Tom Clack and James Scullion took a wicket each, Leaving Phil Spencer to mop up the tail with figures of 3 for 25. For Lye D Desailles ended up 80no hitting the ball hard but aerial to boost the Lye total to 180 all-out in the 49th over.The Greens reply got off to a flyer with Paul Yorke smashing the ball over the boundary six times in an opening partnership of 75 in ten overs, James[hickybo]Curtis then joined Yorke he too got off the mark with a straight six, Yorke departed for 73 his fifty only took 33 balls but was sufficient to take the game away from Lye , although they ended up losing six wickets the victory was never in danger, Nick Rogers 20 and 28no for Curtis saw the green home in the 31st over, Lye tried eight bowlers but never recovered from Yorke's opening blast.The Green gained 20 points and Lye 5 Martley vs BGCC 4th XI With The Green's regular captain back from injury they were once again able to lose the toss and were put in to bat on a slow, damp and unpredictable wicket. Solid enough starts soon turned to nothing and it became apparent that a score of around 150 should be competitive on this type of track. Sam Bradley however had other ideas and constructed easily his best senior performance for The Green to take his personal total to 43 not out and with Andy Wheeler (57) finding Saturday form at last and launching a "Jack Attack" the team's total of 206 seemed more than enough. The Green took to the field after tea in a confident mood, the bowlers having been instructed by their captain to "pitch it up and bowl at the stumps". Unfortunately the seamers had ideas of their own and a series of long-hops and full tosses were dispatched to the boundary for fours and sixes. A glance at the scoreboard after 10 overs showed Martley cruising towards victory on 82 for 2 and The Green's captain decided that a change was required. The experienced Andy Wheeler himself and Dave Price took all of the pace out of the bowling attack from here on and successfully put paid to any chance of a Martley win as they collapsed to 143 all out with Price taking his first, ( largely unreported ), six wicket haul of the season. This was another team performance showing that the 4ths have strength in depth and can rely upon the colts to perform well at a senior level.