Barnards Green cricket Club Match Reports.
 
 

 

 


24th July 2004

 

Gree

Enville  vs Barnards Green 2nd XI

Green skipper Dick Brown won the toss at Enville and immediately decided the course of the match by batting. His theory that the track would only get worse was  interesting, but he lacked the bowlers to test it. Enville made no effort to win but escaped easily with a draw.

 

Handed the advantages of the new ball in friendly damp conditions, Such and Insley kept a lid on the Green for the first 20 overs. Goodman made a dogged 10. Rogers swiped with typical energy for 19, then cut a wide legside full toss on to his stumps. Metcalfe was caught behind at once. Trouble loomed because quick runs were needed in the final third of the innings, but Rich Brown (22) and the belligerent Chris Hill (33) played their roles perfectly as the Green advanced to 193-6. Brian Hancock was shackled by a leg strain but prodded and plodded through, carrying his bat for 89. Some friendly accusations of slow play were heard, but wiser heads appreciated the need for an anchor.

 

With Stu Fletcher injured this week, the Green bowling looked very thin on paper, so Brown did not care to attack at first. Hill was once again heavily used (16 overs, 2-24). Andy Sanders shared the opening attack and they soon removed Hodges and Fellows lbw. But after an hour, with Enville lifeless (29-2 off 19 overs) and his team growing restive, the skipper had to change tack.

 

The resulting Brown double act claimed three more wickets, but too late. Rich Brown’s little-seen medium pace accounted for Branch. The skipper’s own attempts at spin presented no clear threat except to his nervous fielders, but Turner (20) and Goring (8 in 23 overs) somehow fell to a half-volley and a very long hop. Although Hill’s second spell brought edges and anxious moments and one wicket, and Rob Tyler took another in three good overs at the death, Enville were never tempted and never in real danger. They closed on an unimpressive but undefeated 87-7.

 

Barnards Green 193-6 (45 overs; B Hancock 89no, C Hill 33; L Small 3-79)

Enville 86-7 (45 overs; S Such 23no; C Hill 2-24, R W Brown 2-26)

Winning draw for Barnards Green

 

Belbroughton vs Barnards Green 3rd XI

Saturday saw Barnards Green 3rds visit old friends Belbroughton at Blakedown and after an early season high scoring tie, this game was always going to be eagerly awaited.  Skipper Dean duly won the toss and with a team packed with batting but a little lightweight on the bowling, he elected to field first.  Bass and the experienced pete Ross saw belbroughton off to a steady start although Bass could easily have been back in the pavilionn on a number of occasions.  Andy Hoddy found a good line and length conceding just 19 off 8 overs, but it was the introduction of two 13 year olds James Scullion and Callum White who caused the batsmen most problems with White bowling 4 overs for just 7 runs and Scullion 8 overs for 27 as well as picking upone wicket.  A superb piece of fielding by Phil Harris saw the demise of Ross and Scullion accounted for Bass for a fine 74.  Robin Longmore had Knights well stumped by Perkins without scoring and jamie Longmore returned to bowl well at the death to restrict belbroughton to 207 off their 45 overs.
With a strong batting line up, this should never have proved a problem for the Green although they did at times make hard work of the chase with some lack lustre running between the wickets.  However, Lee Dyment (56) and young Phil Harris (37) paved the way having lost Bob Rogers early in the innings and they put on 96 before Harris was caught behind.  Dyment having reached his 50 then tried to increase the scoring rate but skied Nick Ross and was well caught by Knights for the first of two good catches.  Cyril Dean (21) Andy Hoddy (24) and Mark Perkins (37no) then increased the run rate before dave price joined Perkins to see the Green home with 9 balls to spare and 5 wickets in hand for 20 points.

 

Barnards Green vs Enville

On Saturday Barnards Green 1st XI entertained Enville 1st XI on a sun drenched day at North End Lane.

Skipper Chris Smedley Won the toss and reluctantly put the visitors in on a hard flat looking track. Openers Harrison & Williams started their usual task of trying to knock the top out of the opposition order but with very little help from the pitch, conditions looked to favour the batsman.

After 14 overs  Enville looked to be in a good position at 70 for 0, Skipper Chris Smedley then turned to Leg Spinner Jez Clarke, Clarke started well hitting his line and length immediately and soon struck with his first wicket with help from a solid catch by Smedley, a change was then made at the other end where Churchill was brought in to the attack, Churchill relished the opportunity of a bowl on this hard track and bowled with good aggression and pace whilst at the same time trapping the number 3 LBW.

The variation of spin and pace at either end worked well and with some excellent fielding in-between times the green started to peg the run rate right down Clarke continued to pick up wickets throughout his 18 over spell and with no other wickets falling at the other end despite the introduction of T. Clarke and opener Harrison Jez Clarke returned Career best figures of 18 Overs 8 for 39.

Although Enville were not completely dismissed the green went in to tea very happy to contain Enville to 155 for 9 of their 50 overs.

Jez Clarke and Paul Drinkwater set about the Enville attack but Drinkwater was soon back in the pavilion after guiding one in to first slips hands, this brought Smedley to the crease and he and Clarke both looked in good form as they took the score over 50 off just 12 overs, with the score on 70, Man of the match Clarke then Perished LBW for a dominant 47, with the coming and going of Andy Wheeler and Tim Clarke neither of which troubled the scorer leaving Veteran Rob Richards and Skipper Smedley who batted superbly for his 68 not out to ease the green home with 16 overs to spare.

This Week Green face their biggest test of the season away to second place Harbourne.