BARNARDS Green Thirds entertained old rivals Belbroughton on a dry but overcast afternoon on Saturday.

BARNARDS GREEN THIRDS v BELBROUGHTON

Skipper Bob Rogers asked Belbroughton to take first knock and openers Doolittle and Pardoe pounced on any loose deliveries and quickly took the score to 34.

Rob Lewis was introduced to the attack and he had an immediate effect having Doolittle smartly stumped by Nick Rogers. Further wickets then fell at regular intervals as Lewis found a good line and length to finish with 5-17.

Father and son Mick and Nick Ross then set about rebuilding the innings before Dave Price took a smart catch to dismiss Nick off the bowling of Jamie Longmore. Field then took the bowling on and regularly found the boundary before Liam Paddock returned and picked up two wickets with jamie Longmore taking a skier and Emily Price pouching one in the covers.

Mick Ross finished unbeaten on 51 and Belbroughton scrambled to 181.

The Green's response was slow but solid as Lee Dyment (12) and young Liam Paddock (21) batted cautiously against an accurate attack. Paddock then showed what a quality player he is going to be with a flurry of superb drives through extra cover, but with the score on 41, both openers perished in quick succession.

Three further wickets fell in quick succession and the Green were left floundering on 47-5 when Nick Rogers joined the patient Rob Lewis. Rogers rode his luck a little but was quick to pounce on anything loose on the legside. These two took the score to 109 before Rogers gave a simple return catch and was out for 29.

With Lewis looking solid, but the run rate increasing it was a case of enter the gladiator as Dave Price rolled back the years to cream the ball to all parts of the ground for a rapid 30no. This clearly inspired Rob Lewis, who started to find the gaps and went on to score an excellent 57no. These two saw the Green home for an excellent four wicket victory and 20 points.

Many thanks to match day sponsor MSM/DRH.