Green II hold on for losing draw (From Malvern Gazette)

Green II hold on for losing draw

4:13pm Thursday 2nd August 2007 in Cricket

BARNARDS GREEN II v BELBROUGHTON II

BARNARDS Green Seconds entertained Belbroughton Seconds on an exceptionally dry wicket considering the amount of rain in the past fortnight.

The visitors were put in to bat and Ian Scullion and Matt Brookes bowled a tight line with the swinging ball and were unlucky not to have made early breakthroughs.

After ten overs Belbroughton had only scored 10 runs, three of which were extras, when Brookes bowled Hawker for two. Higgins (33) and Williamson (39) then decided to put bat to ball and with skipper Tom Raybould (54), who was dropped at 0, helped post a total of 204. Clarke finished with 3-39, and Spencer 5-49.

The Green's reply got off to the worst possible start when Keith Middleton was caught behind off the bowling of John Raybould for 0, this brought Jez Clarke in to join Jon Lewis and this pairing began to rebuild the innings.

With the score on 72 in the 23rd over Clarke was well caught at long off for 34, Lewis Hooper made only two when he too was caught behind off Raybould, Cyril Dean joined Lewis and proceeded to score freely until Lewis was bowled swinging across the line to the returning Hawker.

Raybould had Dean caught for 24 leaving the Green 117-5 in the 38th over. Matt Brookes had made 20 when he was out caught, this left Spencer and Robin Longmore to try and score at eight an over for the remaining eight overs. Spencer (18) and Longmore (21) were both caught leaving the Green 169-8. This left Scullion and Perkins to see out 10 balls for a losing draw.

The Green gained eight points and Belbroughton 15. Many thanks go to matchday sponsors Kendall Wadley Accountants.