HANLEY Castle and Upton U10s travelled to Barnt Green as they continued with their friendly league season.

BARNT GREEN U10S v

HANLEY CASTLE & UPTON U10S

A warm welcome awaited the visitors who chose to field first in this 20 over pairs competition. On an excellent wicket all of the Hanley bowlers kept their discipline and although the Barnt Green batsman and women scored quickly they could not stop wickets tumbling.

Rory Mathews was the pick of the bowlers with a terrific spell claiming five wickets, but he was ably supported by Tom Amery, two wickets, and some excellent fielding, particularly by debutant Chris Spencer behind the stumps.

Barnt Green having started with 200 runs amassed a large total of 298 but after deductions of five runs per wicket this was reduced to a manageable 243.

Amery (15) started the Hanley reply in confident fashion and all of the batsmen applied themselves determined not to give their wickets away.

Will Chambers (8) and the reliable Mathews (9) were also in good form the latter playing out the last over as victory beckoned.

Even the loss of a wicket on the last ball of the match could not rob Hanley of their first victory of the season as they closed on 253.

Hanley and Upton man of the match was Tom Amery.