Barnards Green cricket Club Match Reports.

^15h May 2004 Ending in a winning dr Barnards Green Singles v aw for Barnards Green

Coombs Wood 2^nd XI vs Barnards Green 2^nd XI Dick Brown was glad to win the toss and field at Coombs Wood as the Green began their Saturday League season. The young seam attack of Bell and Spencer used a few overs finding the right length on a soft but reliable wicket, before both settled down and Spencer struck twice: Chris Hill took an easy catch lobbed to gully, and Lawson was bowled trying to cut. Then Saundry and J Cannon made steady progress, and Brown changed tack with the drinks interval in sight. Hill’s medium pace reduced the runs at one end (12 overs for 25) and Simon Clarke’s slow medium was rewarded by a stumping and an LBW. Coombs Wood had to dig in against tight bowling and keen fielding in this middle stage. The last ten overs were more productive, with the pitch visibly easing, though Spencer (3 for 37) returned and bowled N Cannon for a good 32. The Green conceded too many wides throughout, and over 30 extras in total, but were satisfied to be chasing 161 off their 45 overs. Hancock fell for a duck, but Hacking took a robust line with four swift boundaries. The innings then collapsed impressively: Hacking played round a slower one from Westwood, Jon Lewis slapped a full toss to cover, Rogers was yorked by Badger, and skipper Brown top-edged a legside free hit. This left Rob Lewis and Hill in dangerous territory (68-5). Four per over were needed, and the batting resources from 8 to 11 were unclear. Hill took up the twin challenges of clipping the seamers to the leg boundary and persuading Lewis to run quick singles. In fifteen tense overs, with several alarms and mid-pitch conferences, this pair turned the match. Westwood had a second spell without luck. Mason was tried at the last, but Lewis (62 n.o.) launched a powerful six and Hill (44 n.o.), with two overs spare, finished the game with a well-driven four. Westwood (2-46), Turner (2-40) and Badger (1-27) were steady for Coombs Wood, but they lacked twenty or so extra runs to apply pressure to the Green veterans. The ground and wicket were in fine condition despite recent rain, and the result was in the balance at all times until the Green passed 150. This was a good-spirited match and a decent start for the Green campaign, but the top-order bats will want to spend more time at the crease, and less in the pavilion watching their seniors. Coombs Wood 161-5 (45 overs) Barnards Green 162-5 (42.4 overs) Barnards Green won by 5 wickets Barnards Green 1^st XI vs Coombs Wood Barnards Green entertained league newcomers Coombs Wood in this Worcestershire County League Division 3 clash. On a beautiful day but with just a hint of cloud cover Green skipper Chris Smedley elected to bowl first. Chris Harrison wasted no time getting into the action first trapping Moorcroft leg before then clean bowling Burgoyne. Tim Williams then joined the wicket taking with two clean bowled wickets and with Harrison again striking with 2 more leg before dismissals Coombs Wood were left in tatters at 11 for 6 after 12 overs. The Green’s opening pair bowled with great accuracy and swung the ball considerably. Captain Whyte restored some order to the innings but the introduction of Clive Churchill saw two further quick wickets go down and when Harrison returned to the attack to pick up 2 more wickets in an over Coombs Wood were bowled out for just 75. Chris Harrison finished with superb figures of 6 for 24 off 10 overs, well supported by Tim Williams, 2 for 13 off 8 overs and Clive Churchill 2 for 13. The Green’s fielding was also excellent Jez Clarke and Simon Cooke set off in pursuit of an early finish and Clarke in particular was striking the ball very well early on. Clarke eventually fell for an entertaining 19 which saw the Green off to a very good start. Cooke and Boult fell shortly after leg before to leave the Green 46 for 3. Smedley joined Tim Clarke and the pair battled hard with Clarke showing signs of his excellent form. Clarke stroked a straight six, his first boundary to finish unbeaten on 22 and win the game for the Green. The Green picked up 20 points and stay second behind Harborne. Thanks to sponsors Interkey. Next Week The Green travel to Enville in high spirits.

WC Barnards Green Singles v Belbroughton vision – Saturday 15 May 2004 With the ending of the monsoon season the Singles Cricket season finally got under way as they had the better of a drawn game against Belbroughton. Skipper Freeman elected to bat and opted for the clean striking Leech as his opening bat. Leech and a more watchful Curtis saw the singles off to a tremendous start. Leech hitting clean and straight soon had the new numbers on the scoreboard being changed regularly. It came as a surprise when Curtis (10) departed with the score on 52. Leech soon followed for a rapid 43 and the singles consolidated. The next four batters all got in and promptly got out as Belbroughton dragged the score back and at 145 for 6 the innings could have gone either way. Metcalfe and Spencer ensured that the innings was propelled forward with an awesome display of hard hitting. The pair added 70 runs in five overs Spencer was in merciless form smashing six sixes in seven balls whilst a more sedate Metcalfe was caught on the boundary going for his third six for 25. Spencer continued to climb into the bowling and it took a superb catch on the boundary to dismiss him for 73. The ‘singles’ tail joined in the fun gaining air miles with some lusty hitting as youngster Phil Harris 18 and Rich Brown 13 added thirty off the final three overs leaving the Green on a formidable 290. All of Belbroughton bowlers took wickets but they will want to ignore the runs column on this occasion. The Belbroughton response was dramatic in the extreme, having 45 runs on the board after three overs. A rapid bowling change stemmed the run flow but failed to bring a breakthrough. Beavon could not hold onto two stinging chances that came his way as Ross and Dunn played sensibly. With the score on 95 in the eighteenth over the breakthrough came, just reward for an excellent spell by Brown (1 – 17), Leech had a case of ‘déjà vu’ as the ball plummeted towards him, this time making no mistake and Ross went for 33. Freeman tried a variety of bowlers to no avail as Belbroughton had little difficulty in seeing out time. Dunn passed fifty and Jessop found the boundaries as the Single closed around the bat. With the match going nowhere Freeman threw the ball to Brookes, who if nothing else would entertain a large crowd, the rewards were immediate. He knocked back Jessop’s off stump for 45 and in the next over a revitalised Hooper removed Dunn for 55. It was Brookes who proceeded to rip the heart out Belbroughton’s batting taking three more quick wickets and the singles scented an unlikely victory. This hope was dashed as old campaigners Broadman (13no) and Kings (14no) saw out the remaining ten overs without alarm. Brookes 4 for 31 in a batsman dominated match was outstanding but the singles had to settle for the winning draw and 14 points. Quote of the Day. (Metty and Engine putting on 70 in 5 overs, Sam umpiring, everyone else looking for balls) Metty: “ Sam my hamstring is feeling tight” Sam: “Don’t worry Metty I won’t ask you to bowl and Engine won’t ask you to run!”