Poor batting costs Green in away loss (From Malvern Gazette)

Poor batting costs Green in away loss

7:00am Friday 15th June 2012 in Cricket

BARNARDS Green made the short journey to visit Worcester’s Old Elizabethans and suffered a five-wicket defeat in Birmingham League Division Two.

A damp pitch resulted in a 30- minute delay with the game reduced to 50 overs per side, so it was no surprise when OEs’ skipper Jamie Boyle won the toss he chose to field.

OEs opening bowler Liam Booth dropped one short to in-form Mark Hooper, who pulled it cleanly only to find himself caught by a spectacular one-handed diving catch by Jamie Alford.

Adam Dovey was then adjudged lbw to Hemaka Pathinarage for one to leave the Green struggling on 9-2.

Elliott Hennessy was joined by Josh Rurawhe and they made steady progress, putting on 59.

Alford replaced Booth and bowled tightly as Barnards Green reached 50 in the 20th over.

Overseas leg-spinner Daniel Rootes (3-9) took over from Pathinarage and made two breakthroughs in his first four overs, bowling both Hennessy (27) and Rurawhe (30).

Alford (4-31) took care of the Green’s four middle-order batsmen with Liam Smith caught by Bull at mid-wicket for one, Jon Dovey bowled for five and Dannie Rees edging his first ball to first slip Jamie Boyle, before captain Tim Williams skyed one to slip for a simple second catch for Boyle, also for 0.

With Kev Golder and James Marsh both dismissed for one, Ashlea Brewer was left stranded on 25 as Barnards Green slumped to 108 all out in 45.5 overs.

The Green began their reply well with Josh Rurawhe claiming two victims in his first over, bowling Tareq Jamil for two, before trapping captain Jamie Boyle lbw for a duck.

Liam Ridings made just five before he was caught at mid-on by Marsh and, with OEs on 13-3 after seven overs, Barnards Green hopes were raised. James Bull joined Joe Taylor and this pair steadied the ship and took the score onto 50 before Bull was caught by Marsh off his own bowling for 10.

This brought Nick Brown to the crease and, despite struggling initially, he was an able partner for Taylor.

Williams brought himself on and, despite some tight bowling, couldn’t produce the breakthrough.

Pace bowler Smith and spinner Rees joined the attack with BGCC in desperate need of wickets.

Brown hit Smith for a six over deep mid-wicket before the bowler got his revenge in the next over.

Brown miss-hit and was caught at point by Hennessy to give Smith his first BGCC wicket.

Alford hit a rapid 14 off 10 balls, including a six and a four off Rees'

last over, to win the game. Taylor carried his bat for a creditable 40 not out.