Green slip to second after a winning draw (From Malvern Gazette)

Green slip to second after a winning draw

2:00pm Saturday 9th June 2012 in Cricket

BARNARDS Green dropped to second in Birmingham League Division Two after being held to a 15-point winning draw at home to Attock.

The game was completed despite grey skies and a damp outfield after skipper Tim Williams chose to bat first with Green bowled out for 246 in the 52nd over.

Openers Mark Hooper and Adam Dovey set off at a steady pace with the former taking the lead role.

Green progressed to 47 before Hooper was dropped by the wicketkeeper off a difficult, low chance.

Dovey also rode his luck but Green reached 50 in the 17th over and 100 in the 23rd.

Hooper hit his half-century off 70 balls before Dovey (40) was caught at deep mid-wicket with the score on 113.

Phil Harris struck a massive six to get off the mark but tried to do the same two balls later and was snapped up at long-off.

Josh Rurawhe (6) was caught at cover and Green suffered a familiar middle-order collapse with Dannie Rees and Jon Dovey falling for ducks.

Elliott Hennessy and Hooper showed promise and the 150 mark was achieved in the 34th over.

But Hooper was run out on 78 and the score quickly went from 162-6 to 163-8 when Hennessy (10) and Chris Smedley (1) followed.

However, Williams (18) and Ashlea Brewer, who scored a runa- ball 55 not out, settled quickly with James Marsh (2) supporting to reach 246. Qasim Shah took 4-50 off nine overs.

In reply, Mohammed Qamar Khan (91) was the danger man as Attock brought up the 50 in the 16th over.

Spinner Rees broke the opening partnership on 89 runs with Williams taking a good slip catch and then Attock’s middle order also struggled.

Smedley clean bowled two and Adam Dovey earned a run-out but Khan was dropped twice on the boundary by Marsh and Jon Dovey.

However, Smedley claimed another wicket to reduce Attock to 154-5 as they still needed 44 for the losing draw and 93 to win with 11 overs left.

Safraz Ali (34) increased the pace with multiple boundaries and Khan was dropped again by Jon Dovey.

But he was out next over after a good catch on the boundary by Rurawhe off Smedley (4-68).

Attock passed the losing-draw total in the 52nd over before Harris claimed two swift victims to end outside hopes of an away win.

The visitors saw out the rest of the match to end on 229-8 from 58 overs.