Six-hit Wheeler belts 123 (From Malvern Gazette)

Six-hit Wheeler belts 123

4:05pm Thursday 2nd August 2007 in Cricket

HANLEY CASTLE & UPTON II v BARNARDS GREEN IV

BARNARDS Green fourths travelled the short journey to Hanley Castle for this Crusader Worcestershire County League Division Four South 2nd XI clash.

Green were asked to bat and John Wheeler and Rob Lewis opened the innings with very contrasting styles of batting and levels of aggression.

Wheeler Snr soon perished and Harry Pleass, playing his first game of the season, joined Lewis to continue a steady and watchful approach. Following some attractive shots and sensible batting, Pleass was bowled for 14. Chris Horne then came and went for eight with Green at 66-3.

Andy Wheeler and Rob Lewis played sensibly with good deliveries and dispatched every bad ball bowled with both men bringing up their 50s in the 30th over. Lewis pulled a muscle and Pleass came in as a runner, however, this only produced more boundaries.

Wheeler hit his 10th of 12 sixes and brought up his first century of the season, finally being caught at gully for 123 and ending a partnership of 169. Bradley and Brewer ably supported Rob Lewis through to 73no as Green closed on 242-5.

Pick of the bowlers was M Amott with 4-47 off 14 overs.

After tea, with the clouds appearing, the Green were keen to make early breakthroughs and avoid the disappointment suffered in the return fixture when Hanley finished eight down and managed to save the draw. With the score on 28-0 off 10 overs, Hanley certainly had set their sights on the draw.

Ian Alley then removed opener Dolphine for 12 and then next ball skipper Robinson for 0. With Sam Bradley bowling an excellent swinging spell of five overs for only nine runs, Dave Price was introduced and promptly took control of the game. His changes of pace and flight were too much for the batsmen and he finished with season best figures of 5-15 off nine overs.

With Ian Alley (3-26) having bowled 11 overs, a change was required, this came in the form of 13-year-old Jack Cullity, playing only his second senior game. He bowled with pace and swing and with two balls remaining in his four-over spell he won the game. First having Amott caught by Price, then pulling off a remarkable one-handed catch off his own bowling to dismiss Mitchell. Hanley were bowled out for 71.

The Green gained 24 points and move back to third in the table with the league leaders, Old Elizabethans being welcomed to Newland tomorrow (Saturday).

Thanks go to the club sponsors Link Tools, Julian Hall Garden Services, Clarke Roxburgh and Tansell Garages.