WITH the Saturday morning weather showing little promise, players gathered at North End Lane and few bothered to get the kit from their cars for this WCL Division Three game.

BARNARDS GREEN v RUSHWICK

With the help of two experienced umpires, an excellently prepared and covered pitch and a Barnards Green team chomping at the bit for any slight opportunity to open the gap at the top of the table, a toss was made in what was to be a reduced 41-over game between these two local rivals.

Skipper Chris Smedley won the toss and asked Rushwick to bat in somewhat wintery conditions.

With the rain visibly racing in, it was only a matter of time before the first downpour came, however, not before Chris Harrison had struck twice leaving Rushwick in trouble at 9-2.

The rain kept the players in the pavilion for well over an hour and any resumption looked unlikely, however the Green players stayed keen to get back on the pitch and an inspection by the umpires saw the game resume, now reduced to 30 overs per side.

Tim Clarke (3-46) liked the greasy conditions and Churchill took two wickets in his spell. The Rushwick batsmen came and went with the showers and they posted a respectable 146 in 30 overs.

In reply the opening partnership of Kev Golder and Jez Clarke took the attack to the Rushwick openers. As Clarke (22) continued in confident fashion hitting the boundary repetitively, Golder looked to be waiting patiently, this changed when Clarke departed, falling with the score on 44. Golder took over and had complete control of the game apart from one last rain interruption, which saw the Green now having only 28 overs to get the required total.

The game was in the balance as Kiwi Jono Boult, Tim Clarke, Paul Drinkwater and veteran Richards all fell for under par scores.

However Golder rotated the strike and hit the bad ball to the boundary every time, supported throughout by skipper Smedley and all-rounder Williams the Green crept closer to the 146 needed.

However the Rushwick bowlers eventually got Williams and then Golder for an excellent 60.

The Green were poised needing 10 runs off 12 balls, eight wickets down, with wicket keeper Doughty at the crease accompanied by Churchill, who has not been required to bat yet this season.

The pair did exactly what was asked of them as the Rushwick bowlers bowled at the stumps looking for the victory. With five balls left, Doughty guided the ball through the slips for four ending what goes down as a remarkable day's cricket and a superb result, which was obtained through determination, great team spirit and excellent facilities.

With only a handful of matches in the whole of the county being played, a huge thanks must go to Roy Mayo for his endless work on the pitch to make results like this possible.

Green, now 31 points clear at the top, look forward to entertaining Avoncroft tomorrow (Saturday).