Barnards Green cricket Club Match Reports.

^23rd May 2004 Ending in a winning dr Barnards Green Singles v aw for Barnard Barnards Green Singles v Brintons s Green

Barnards Green 2^nd XI vs Worcester 2^nds The Green rebounded from last week’s massacre at Kidderminster, defeating Worcester in a tight game with several surprising twists. They tried more than once to throw the match away, but squeezed home in a final half hour of excitement and near panic. Losing the toss, skipper Mark Jones tried a left/right batting partnership, but Simon Cook was promptly bowled by Riaz with only 3 on the board. Chris Hill, with some initial luck, survived the pace assault and added 34 with Steve Freeman (15). After Freeman lobbed to cover and Heaton was run out by a deflection from the bowler, Hill and Jon Lewis (24) assembled a partnership of 72. Lewis then chipped a slow full toss to cover and Hill (55) was very well taken by Smedley off a fierce pull. At 120-5 after 30 overs the Green were struggling again, but Dave Knapper (35) and Dick Brown (36 no) took them to a competitive total of 208. Stu Fletcher soon bowled Mike Genever, but father Chris added 130 with Al Levy as Worcester strolled towards their target. After 30 overs they were easily matching the run rate and had 9 wickets in hand. Paul Knapper, Brian Bartlett and Martin Heaton had tried hard, but the missed chances and plentiful byes told a dispiriting tale. Heaton strained a muscle and could no longer bowl. Now, under some pressure, Jones gambled on Dick Brown’s gentle spinners, and the match completely turned. Brown bowled Genever for a fine 57, and stretched for a return catch to remove Levy (69). This looked promising, but Jones needed another fresh bowler to replace the steady Bartlett. Hill, far from fresh after his innings and Saturday’s 22-over spell, battled fatigue and some very odd field placements. He and Brown decided to bowl straight, a useful surprise tactic at North End Lane, and he took three wickets in two overs. Dave Cook was well caught by Simon Cook at midwicket, and Tenney and Addison fell to no-fuss yorkers. Smedley chipped another return catch to Brown, Harris was run out through Fletcher’s accurate throw, and Ajmal was bowled first ball. Bizarrely, with the Worcester innings now in shreds, the Green reached new levels of incompetence, losing the plot in a flurry of misfields and overthrows. Riaz (27 no) struck some clean blows and Worcester were still in the hunt through the last over. In a frantic finish, with at least three captains setting the field, Hill continued to aim vaguely near the stumps - and the Green scraped home by 6 runs. Barnards Green 208-7 (45 overs; C Hill 55) Worcester 202-9 (45 overs; A Levy 69, C Genever 57; R W Brown 4-31, C Hill 3-34) Barnards Green won by 6 runs

Barnards Green Casuals vs Abberley On Sunday, Newland Sunday Casuals visited the picturesque ground at Abberley school for a friendly encounter with Abberley CC. Electing to bat first on a wicket that deteriorated after the first few overs, Abberley got off to a cautious start against an accurate opening attack of Jamie Plant and Sam Beaumont. Plant then picked up the wicket of Cooper before Savery and Cook started to push the score along. Mat Brookes was introduced and found a good line dismissing both batsmen and skipper Vernalls in a fine spell of 3 for 27. The introduction of father and son Dave and Adam Price then saw wickets tumble with young Adam taking an excellent caught and bowled before enticing Massey into a rash shot well caught by Beaumont. After 40 overs Abberley had amassed a total of 184 which appeared challenging on a pitch of variable bounce. In reply, Newland soon lost Mat Brookes, caught at cover and namesake Lee Brookes departed for 8 soon after. Opener Derek Goodman and Roy Mayo then set about rebuilding the innings and as Goodman started to find the middle of the bat and with Mayo taking a liking to Massey in particular, the score moved to 63 before Mayo was caught for 21. Goodman then savaged the Abberley bowling before being well caught for a fine 77. Newland then lost a few quick wickets before Marek Wajzer and skipper Robin Longmore came together. Longmore then set about the bowling for a whirlwind 18, but when he departed with 20 still required, the game looked all but lost. However the tail wagged and Wajzer received ample support from Sam Beaumont and Jamie Plant, before both perished to Cook. This brought young Adam Price to the wicket and he proved to be the calming influence on Marek. With 15 required, the two of them ran sensibly between the wickets and a glorious cover drive from Adam brought the Green within 6 of victory. To everyone’s surprise, Marek then pulled Massey to the midwicket boundary for six and an excellent victory by one wicket. Next Sunday Newland entertain Broadwas.