BARNARDS Green seconds travelled to Harbourne on Saturday but after two days of heavy rain and more looking imminent, prospects of play in this WCL game did not look very good.

HARBOURNE II v BARNARDS GREEN II

Thanks to the valiant work of the home groundsman, play was only delayed until 3pm, the game being reduced to 37 overs per side.

Skipper Spencer at last won a toss, asking the home side to bat first on a firm but damp pitch. Opening bowlers Sam Spencer and Phil Harris were encouraged by the extra bounce the pitch was providing, Harris in particular bowling unplayable deliveries. Both were unlucky not to take more than one wicket.

Opening batsman Adams rode his luck going the high route to the very short boundaries and after 12 overs, Harbourne were 56-2.

Lewis Hooper was introduced and immediately caused the batsmen problems. He had Adams well caught by Paddock for 52, then caught and bowled Sahi for two. This brought Gear to the wicket, normally playing in the Birmingham premier league he chose this game to make his comeback from injury. He proceeded to stroke the ball effortlessly to all parts of the ground. Captain Spencer chose to allow him the single and frustrate him, this worked and for a period of 10 overs the Green only conceded 18 runs. Phil Harris then ran out Gear for 54 with a fine piece of fielding.

The Harbourne innings petered out and after their 37 overs, they finished on 167-4. Lewis Hooper bowled exceptionally well for figures of 2-40 off 11.

After a sparse tea, Jon Lewis and Jason Brewer started the reply hungry for runs. Lewis was severe on anything pitched up, after five overs the opening pair had compiled 56 runs. First to go was Brewer, caught pushing back a ball he should of given the full treatment. Lewis was next out for a well struck 41, this only brought together Mark Hooper and Liam Paddock.

Hooper (66no) was in fine form but Paddock was keen not to be over-shadowed and struck numerous boundaries in his 36no. The Green reached their target in the 18th over to gain another 20 points.