BARNARDS GREEN V ALVECHURCH

DESPITE a week of atrocious weather Barnards Green groundsman Roy Mayo was delighted to hand over a wicket to the umpires at the scheduled start time.

Unfortunately this prompted the heavens to open and further rain to threaten the chance of any cricket at North End Lane.

With home skipper Smedley eager to get onto the field the home side's mopping-up procedure meant that an early tea was taken and play finally began at 4.15pm with the contest reduced to 31 overs per side.

The visiting skipper produced the correct call at the toss and had no hesitation in inserting the home side on damp wicket.

This moved proved correct as former Sri Lankan international Gamage ripped through a flimsy Smedley drive and also accounted for the in form Golder. Paddock began to rebuild the innings with Harris until he was adjudged LBW for a well made 18. This brought recalled Tim Clarke to the crease who smashed a rapid fire 22 including five boundaries.

Gamage, who bowled unchanged from the Spencer fence end, continued to pick up wickets finishing with 5-59 from his 16 overs.

However, the resistance of Harris, who made a superb 40, and the big-hitting of former Alfrick star Ford, who made 41, gave the Green a more than competitive total of 159 from their allocation.

Williams and Hoogstraten again started economically with the new ball with the former picking up the important early wicket of Reuban, caught behind.

Williams also showed his class in the field with fantastic direct hit run out which put the visitors under immense early pressure.

As the game unfolded the Green fielding continued to be the difference between the two sides with Williams, Smedley and finally Harris taking brilliant catches to stem the flow of runs and set up a strong winning draw.

Ford was again the pick of the Green bowlers picking up 2-35 from his ten overs of off spin. Smedley chipped in with three wickets including the prize wicket of Gamage, however he will again be disappointed not to have eliminated the inevitable four ball' which pushed his economy rate above six runs per over.

BGCC 159-7 - Harris 40, Ford 41, Gamage 5-59.

Alvechurch 128-7 - Deakin 24, Smedley 3-36, Ford 2-35.

BGCC 13 points, Alvechurch six points.

Tomorrow (Saturday), Barnards Green travel to Regency Road to play local rivals Malvern CC in a game that marks the half way stage in the Worcestershire County League Division Three season.