Barnards Green cricket Club Match Reports.

^6th June 2004

Ending in a winning dr Barnards Green Singles v aw for Barnard Barnards Green Singles v Brintons s Green

Ombersely vs Barnards Green 2^nd XI

A fine afternoon at Ombersley saw a closely fought 45-over match twist and turn throughout. Skipper Dick Brown lost the toss and watched as the Green relied at first on wides and byes. Glendinning, in a rare and brief appearance, was out first ball, and Knapper was caught for 4. Chris Hill joined Derek Goodman to restore some order in a stand of 52.

Hill’s 197no dominated the corresponding fixture last year, but today the bowling was stronger and the pitch less reliable. He misjudged a chip to mid-on and left for 35, having hit Davies out of the attack with a triplet of boundaries. Goodman (66) accelerated well and added 44 with Jon Lewis (12). After this, with Knights (3-29) bowling a tight line, the middle order of Mayo and Wajzer could only prod and nudge for half an hour. But Mayo found his range at last with five boundaries, taking the Green to 200.

Ombersley were always in the hunt thanks to a keen approach and a willingness to run for everything. The Green had to produce one of their best efforts in the field, with Wajzer outstanding at deep cover. Matt Brookes, though wicketless, bowled his 9 overs for 14 runs. Jamie Longmore was punished whenever he dropped short, but battled on and then fielded gamely.

The surprise packages were the change bowlers Lewis and Price. Ombersley were well placed and ticking at four an over, but suddenly Lewis bowled Knock (36) and Shuck. Hill replaced him and, after two overs spent locating a good length, took the key wicket of Davies (54), neatly stumped legside by Glendinning. The tension now increased in tandem with the required run rate, as the fielders tired but the batsmen grew anxious.

Price’s 9 overs cost only 29, and at the end he lured Knights down the track for another stumping. Lewis replaced him for a second spell. The 37^th over was dramatic as Hill was struck by Allen for a huge six, bowled him next ball, and also bowled Ritchie. But his next over went for 11 as the Green fielders finally cracked in a welter of fumbles and overthrows. Recriminations were postponed till the bar, the fielders settled again, runs came mostly in singles – and Lewis took two wickets in successive balls.

Ombersley, 8 down, were not finished. D Shuck smashed his first ball for 4 and threatened havoc. Hill kept a tight line, dangerously tight because the fielding restrictions meant no protection behind Glendinning, and then Lewis bowled Shuck so that the last Ombersley pair needed 16 from Hill’s final over. L Shuck (14no) had tried hard but could not pierce the field, and Fitch lost his off stump with two balls remaining.

Credit goes to both teams for an even struggle played in good spirit. Lewis’s 5-37 and Hill’s 4-34 were vital, and Glendinning atoned for his batting with a fine all-round performance behind the stumps, but the Green could not have won without steady effort from the whole side through a hot session in the field.

Barnards Green 200-7 (45 overs; D Goodman 66, R Mayo 36, C Hill 35; D Brace 3-26, P Knights 3-29)

Ombersley 186 all out (44.4 overs; K Davies 54, R Knock 36; J Lewis 5-37, C Hill 4-34)

Barnards Green won by 14 runs