Green II collapse as ten fall for 17 runs (From Malvern Gazette)

Green II collapse as ten fall for 17 runs

6:01pm Thursday 9th August 2007 in Cricket

WORCESTER II v BARNARDS GREEN II

BARNARDS Green Seconds travelled to local rivals Worcester Seconds with an under strength team due to first team call-ups and various excuses of unavailability.

It was still pleasing that the club could field four teams without the services of at least 10 regular players.

After winning the toss, the Green asked Worcester to make first use of an unusually dry pitch, Matt Brookes and Lewis Hooper opened the bowling, opening batsmen for Worcester, Genever and Brown, started cautiously against the swing ball from Brookes and the flight from Hooper.

Brown had a let off when he was dropped in the gully before he was off the mark, he and Genever began to hit out striking numerous boundaries before the latter was well caught by Rogers for 20.

Dan Cure hit 12 before he was caught by Spencer in the deep, Ohren hit a brief 17 then was third out with the score on 90, Matt Brookes then took two quick wickets bowling Rimmell and the dangerous Cooke to leave Worcester 107-6.

Brookes then took his third wicket bowling Corbett for three, soon followed by the dismissal of opener Brown for an important 65, this left the score on 146-8, there was a ninth wicket stand of 28 between Ikalaq (21) and Knapton (8) this allowed Worcester to reach 174-8 off their allotted overs.

Lewis Hooper bowled 25 overs taking 5- 89 and Matt Brookes bowled 23 overs finishing with 3-60.

In reply, Mark Hooper and the recalled veteran Rob Lewis opened the innings and looked in no trouble as they added 78 for the first wicket when Lewis was deceived by a quicker ball from Knapton for a classy 36 and this opened the flood gates.

Knapper was leg before for two, Spencer struggled against his nemesis Bryan Clarke and was bowled for 0, Scullion soon followed without troubling the scorer, Lewis Hooper made two, Matt Brookes three and Nic Rogers scored three, young Ashley Brewer was not out after showing the more senior players how to play spin bowling.

The Green were bowled out for 95, a pathetic effort considering they were 78 for no wicket, credit must go to Knapton who took 6-21 with a fine spell, well backed up by the wily Bryan Clarke, who finished with 4-24.

The Green were comprehensively beaten by 79 runs and must improve in the last six games of the season.