BARNARDS Green thirds entertained a strong Brintons team on a cool and showery afternoon on an excellent track at Newland.

BARNARDS GREEN III v BRINTONS

Opting to bat first, Brintons were a shade fortunate to have opener Maiden still at the wicket after the first over. Phil Harris thought he found the outside edge to be well-taken by keeper Bob Rogers, but it was not given.

The Brintons' openers then took the score past the 60 mark, before Simon Cooke took an excellent low catch to remove Maiden for 39 off Rob Tyler. Parker (24) soon latched on to anything short, regularly finding the unprotected boundaries, before being bowled by Jamie Longmore.

Jones grafted away at the other end, before finally being well caught by Dave Bayliss and providing just rewards for Harris, who bowled far better than his figures suggested. Dave Price tempted Waldron down the track and Rogers whipped off the bails for a stumping and Harris produced a top drawer ball to bowl Reece. Brintons finished on 210, somewhat more than they should have had.

In reply, the Green looked comfortable early on with Simon Cooke and the in-form Rob Tyler having few problems and keeping the scoreboard ticking over. However, both succumbed to short deliveries outside off stump, only to be caught behind.

Dick Brown failed to trouble the scorers, being undone by a yorker, and the runs soon dried up as the Green failed to punish the bad balls and turned twos into singles.

Nick Rogers skied one and Dave Bayliss, having played some nice drives, returned a simple catch to N Waldron to depart for 13.

Bob Rogers then sought to increase the run rate, but was run out in the process and next ball Rob Lewis was bowled for a patient 41.

Phil Harris and Dave Price soon departed and at 103-9, the game looked all but over, with Jamie Longmore and Tom Clack at the crease.

However, these two showed how it should be done and Longmore crashed the ball to all parts of the ground for an excellent 38, being well supported by Clack, who finished on 7no, after Longmore was caught going for another six. Brintons finished with 24 points, the Green with six points.

Many thanks to match day sponsor, Stephen Watkins School of Pianoforte.