Ball and Yorke set up victory (From Malvern Gazette)

Ball and Yorke set up victory

6:04pm Thursday 9th August 2007 in Cricket

BARNARDS GREEN SUNDAY II v HIMLEY II

SUMMER finally came to Northend Lane on Sunday, bringing with it a large and friendly band of Himley supporters.

The Green, although missing a number of their regulars through injury, were still able to field a strong looking team. Skipper Marek Wajzer was asked to field first on the hottest day of the year so far.

The Green's opening bowlers both failed to make any inroads into a solid Himley opening partnership of Naylor and Jones and it was left to first change, Anshuman, appearing in his last match for the Green, to finally break the partnership having Naylor (22) well caught at point by Sam Bradley. Shortly after he also accounted for Jones (40) who was trapped lbw by a ball which kept a little low.

The new pairing of Fyje and Brown soon found the gentle medium pace of The Green's bowling attack to their liking and the run-rate started to climb as batting became easier.

Green skipper Wajzer, without any of his regular stop bowlers to stem the tide, turned first to Jack Wheeler who, despite bowling a mixture of full tosses and long hops, was surprisingly effective at slowing the rate and then to the rapidly improving youngster, Jack Cullity, who picked up the wicket of the dangerous Fyje (42).

With useful bowling contributions from Wajzer and Simon Ball, who bowled with controlled aggression throughout his six-over spell, Himley were finally restricted to 204-3 off their 40 overs, with Brown (41no) and Reeves (32no).

Young Simon Ball and the more experienced Paul Yorke opened for the Green and seemed determined to dominate the Himley attack from the start. Ball produced a mixture of delicate leg-glances and more agricultural, but equally effective swipes and Yorke waited patiently for the bad ball which was inevitably dispatched to the boundary.

These two stayed together until the 16th over, both having passed the 50 mark, and putting on 129 for the first wicket. Ball was eventually bowled by Tromans for an exciting 54. Dave Marshall (5) seemed confident in his support of Yorke before being caught at mid-wicket and when Yorke eventually perished just two short of his century, the Green were in sight of victory needing just 26 more runs.

Ashley Brewer, making his first appearance as a teenager for the Sunday side, failed to trouble the scorers and it was left to Anshuman (27no) and Adam Price (4no) to see The Green home by six wickets.

Thanks to match day sponsors, John Pugh Hairdressers, David Wyman Map Sales and S Harris Plumbing and Heating.