Bromyard 169-9, Barnards Green 170-0.

BARNARDS Green closed the gap on Crusader Worcestershire League Division One leaders Pershore to four points with a 10-wicket win at Bromyard led by Nick Murphy’s unbeaten 90.

Skipper Tim Williams managed to win his third toss of the season and, with a side missing Chris Smedley and Richard Williams (suspended), Phil Harris (US soccer trials) and Kevin Golder, elected to field first in a game reduced to 43 overs per side due to rain.

Bromyard’s Jeremy Leighton and Ash Bullock managed to see off the new ball threat of Murphy and Williams, posting a partnership of 66. Leighton was first to go for a stodgy 28 off the bowling of Andrew Ford.

Lakshan Rodrigo contributed 30, including a huge six, before he was the first of four victims for Lewis Hooper whose off-spin returned figures of 4-36.

At this point, Zahid Saeed and Owen Thomas tried to accelerate the rate on a slow outfield.

Saeed fell for 28 to a boundary catch by Ford off Hooper and Thomas fell, stumped by Adam Binks for 15, to leave the home side 153-4.

Green then managed to exert pressure on the home side with no-one else reaching double figures as Murphy returned for two scalps closing the innings on 169-9.

With no regular first XI openers in the side skipper Williams entrusted the duties to Mark Hooper, promoted from strong form in the second XI, and Murphy who has been accustomed to the number 11 spot this season.

Saeed and Leighton opened proceedings for the home side and Saeed, particularly bowled economically, on the still slow pitch.

Hooper and Murphy were assured in their play in the opening overs and saw off the new-ball threat.

At this point both Hooper and Murphy began to latch onto every scoring opportunity, Hooper clipped Leighton for a brace of leg-side boundaries and Murphy unleashed a powerful drive off Saeed.

Hooper brought up his 50. Not to be outdone, Murphy reached his own half-century before dispensing Rodrigo for sixes from consecutive balls. His innings went from a 71-ball 50 to 90 from just 98 balls, including seven sixes.

Hooper finished with 65 from 105 balls.