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 Green

Barnards Green 2nd XI vs Dominies and Guild


 The Green almost forced a win over their nearest rivals in Division Three, and showed encouraging improvement in the field. Since they lost the toss and had to bat first on a wet day, with rainclouds all around Malvern, this was a good result.

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.