Barnards Green cricket Club Match
Reports.
10th July 2004 Ending in a winning
dr Barnards Green Singles v aw for Barnard Barnards Green Singles v ns s
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Barnards Green 2nd XI vs Dominies and Guild
Hancock and Goodman, never fluent on
an inconsistent track, did very well to make 88 before Goodman (25) hit high
and straight to mid-off. Rogers then spanked 26 mostly legside runs and gave
way to the similarly inclined Hacking, whose undefeated 60 was easily the
best of his season so far. Wilks bowled some useful and varied spin, and had
Hancock stumped for a cultured 54 with ten overs left, but runs flowed freely
with Hacking well supported by Lewis (41). The total of 243 was very
satisfactory. After tea Hill showed pace and
precision while the ball was new. Gwynne, too aggressive, bottom-edged a
pull. Loynes was completely undone by a terrific leg-cutter. Clements and
Ingram had to regroup, and Green skipper Dick Brown saw no reason to allow
them easy boundaries. After a dozen overs of gentle attrition, with the
required run rate increasing, the match sprang briefly to life again. Given the League positions of the
teams, both batsmen were bound to attack, and Brown’s defensive tactics were
more or less supported by events. Fletcher struck just before drinks, when
Ingram was excellently caught by Hacking at point, and just after drinks when
Ahmed edged behind to Glendinning. Clements (59) launched a series of leg
drives and lap shots against Hill, who suffered briefly but kept a straight
line and saw Birch take a good catch in the deep. At 105-5, with the ball
losing all shine and hardness, D&G were suddenly uninterested in the
chase. Hill (4-63) produced another fine cutter to bowl McDonald behind his
legs, but the remaining batsmen had only to play straight for the draw. Brown, taking heavy hints from
colleagues on and off the field, changed the rhythm of the innings.
Introduced for only the second time this year, and fully rested after his
innings and a large tea, Lewis found a dramatic spell of 3 for 9, all bowled.
He was then unlucky as the final pair survived edges and a solid LBW appeal.
Brown switched the bowlers but was frustrated by the soft ball, slow pitch,
and absence of attacking spin. Nevertheless the Green took 16 points from the
winning draw. In summary, the first half of the
Green season showed a clear pattern. The batting relies on the mature
players, but the young middle order now show signs of not collapsing. Though
Fletcher and Hill still dominate the bowling, Lewis and Spencer are useful
surprise weapons. Defeat can usually be prevented if the Green bat first, but
victory cannot be assured without more variety in the bowling. Thus it was in
today’s draw, which leaves the Green atop the League. Barnards Green 243-4 (45 overs;
Hacking 60 no, Hancock 54, Lewis 41) Dominies and Guild 145-9 (45 overs;
Clements 59; Hill 4-63, Lewis 3-9) Winning draw for Barnards Green -
Match sponsored by Phoenix Heating Dominies and Guild vs Barnards
Green 1st XI Table
Toppers Barnards Green made the journey to Battenhall on a dark rain filled
sky day last Saturday, Unbelievably on a day where the green looking track
and dubious weather may play a part in the game skipper Chris Smedley kept
his 100 % record with the coin and asked the home side to bat first. Openers Williams and Harrison didn’t
make the worst of starts but it was obvious the Domonies batsmen were going
to take advantage of the short boundary and the pace of the new ball, and
with the score already on 44 this was enough for skipper Smedley to make a
double bowling change after just six overs, this left Young Liam Paddock and
the more senior Clive Churchill to make use of the still new ball, after both
bowlers went for more than ten runs in their first overs they both settled
down and bowled a reasonable line and length paddock especially (3 for 33 )
who eventually managed to tease opener Stokes in to his trap for a lusty 49. With the game still not as controlled,
as he’d like it Smedley decided to make a point and bowl himself for the first time this year, this proved
to be a debatable subject at drinks by what time the score had settled at 125
for 2. The green re grouped and realised that
if they did not knuckle down in the second half they could be chasing a large
total, Smedley finished his spell ( 0 for 20 off 6 ) and then turned back to
his strike bowlers with Paddock picking up wickets at regular intervals,
Churchill ( 1 for 36 )and Harrison (1 for 40 ) rotated round him with good
effect but it was Williams who bowled in excellent areas at the other end
picking up the middle order .(4 for 51) Apart from Stokes G Wilkes (52 not
out) was the only other contributor to the Domonies total of 197 all out
after just 43 overs. This was down to some excellent application in the second half
of the innings and showed promise as to what could be achieved by all, including some fielding of the highest standard
by Tim Clarke who ‘ Took one for the team’ on numerous occasions throughout
the day. With Drinkwater injured whilst
fielding Smedley Partnered Jez Clarke out to the middle The pair started
cautiously as openers Trigg and skipper Williams both started with Maidens.
After ten overs the green were settled at 23 for 0 and with 56 overs to reach
the required total the green were
more than comfortable. Clarke then started to punish Williams
on anything wide and soon the 50 partnership was up, trigg who was swinging
the ball nicely and bowling very tightly was then forced to be removed from
the attack after pulling his groin which pleased the openers. Smedley used his man management skills
to good effect between overs as the
pair moved steadily up to 74 before
Jez Clarke unluckily chopped one on, for a solid 45. This brought call up Andy Wheeler to
the creese who looked to be in good form as he swept his first ball for 4 but
soon perished for a quick 9, with an extensive batting line up the green were
at no point troubled as Tim Clarke accompanied Man of the match Smedley for the remainder of the game, both
batsmen did the basics and played the ball on it’s merit throughout,
providing shots pleasing to the eye all round the wicket both brought up
their 50’s and then passed their second hundred partnership of the year. The
green completed their 9 th win of the campaign with 16 overs remaining
Smedley and Clarke finishing on 84 and 53 respectively. Next week green travel to 3rd
place Coombs Wood for what is considered one of their biggest games this
year. |
West Malvern vs Barnards Green Singles Barnards Green ‘singles’ failed to
dislodge West Malvern’s last pair and had to settle for a winning draw in a
match that will be remembered for some remarkable catches. After a brief shower the West Malvern
skipper asked the Green to have first use of very slow wicket, Theyer quickly
had Leech plumb in front leaving Curtis and Freeman to face some uneasy early
overs. Curtis was yorked by O’Connell
with the score on 27. Dave White who latched onto to anything short and often
found the next county with some clean hitting dispelled any thoughts of
consolidation. The change bowlers
were also to Freeman’s liking and he too found the boundary. With good
running the pair were putting the Green in a position of strength until
O’Connell pulled off a wonderful diving catch to dismiss Freeman for 29, Jon
Lewis fell victim to a superb one handed catch at point and the Green were in
danger of collapse. White continued to attack but with boundary now well
protected he had to make do with singles. His dismissal for 40 left the Green
at a precarious 109 for 5; Beavon survived his first ball and for the first
time in many weeks was able to build an innings. Lee Hooper started to crash
the ball to all parts and the pair added a rapid 50 runs in six overs.
Beavon’s departure brought Brookes to the wicket along with a candidate for
“What happened next?” or “Have you been framed”. Hooper called for a quick
single, Brookes ran two paces slipped and lay on his back catching the suns
rays. Hooper was safely in as the West threw to the keeper, with the cries of
“Get up and run” Brookes made for the bowlers end where the West made a mess
of the return allowing Brookes to make a despairing dive to make his ground.
Hooper continued to flay the West attack and reached an excellent 50 until
Dakin took a fine running catch on the boundary to dismiss him for 55. Two
more quick wickets saw the Green at 180 for 9, Dudley taking 3 for 65. The
last five overs saw some sensible Green batting and a further 35 runs as
Brookes and Clarke took the singles on offer and dispatched the bad ball
leaving themselves on 215 for 9 at the innings closure. The West response stuttered along as a
hostile Hooper extracted extra bounce from a drying wicket. He had Pleass
taken in the gully from a rising delivery. Brookes was miserly in his opening
spell and then benefited from a wonder slip catch. Dakin looked to put the
ball through mid wicket but the edge flew low to the slip cordon where
Freeman flung himself full length to his left to cling on to the catch inches
from the turf. A devastating spell from Spiers (3 – 27) took the heart out of
the West response as they to survive rather than attack and at 81 for 7 this
seemed their only option. With every Green fielder in an attacking position
Dudley joined Gilbert. Dudley elected to attack and was finding the boundary
with regularity, Gilbert who had failed to clear the square in the previous
fifteen overs joined in the fun with some attacking shots of his own. Keeping
his nerve Freeman remained on the attack and was rewarded when Dudley top
edged and Leech ran round to take the catch as Dudley departed for 40. Hooper
was recalled to the attack and promptly had Gilbert caught behind for a
precious 41 leaving the Green four overs at the remaining pair. Despite some
hostile bowling they survived and earnt their side the losing draw bonus
points and denying the Green victory. An excellent cricket match played in
the right spirit had been the winner. |
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