BARNARDS Green Thirds travelled to Stourbridge Fourths for an entertaining game in the grounds of Mary Stevens Park on Saturday.

STOURBRIDGE IV v BARNARDS GREEN III

Two of Stourbridge's teams had been put down to play at home on the same day and so a park pitch was the only alternative.

After a rain delayed start and with a poor wicket, it was to the relief of skipper Robin Longmore that he won the toss and inserted the home team.

The rain had caused the wicket to play slow but made the run ups slippy, but 13-year-old Liam Paddock had no problems as he bowled an excellent line and length whilst swinging the ball yards. His 1-13 off 8 overs was scant reward, but he helped to frustrate the batsman and Patrick Jelley 3-37 and Rob Lewis 2-21 including an excellent stumping by Nick Rogers, were two of the bowlers who benefited.

Emily Price bowled a tidy line to keep the runs down and Rob Tyler bowled his best spell for the Green picking up 3-19 along with an excellent catch off a steepling skier. With good ground fielding, particularly from Jonathon Lewis, the Green kept Stourbridge to 110 in their 42 overs.

The Green set about their target, but opener Lee Dyment got somewhat bogged down and Cyril Dean, having shown great technique in the difficult conditions, fell to a lbw decision. This brought Paddock to the wicket and he found the bounce a little unnerving as the wicket dried out.

When Dyment was bowled for a patient 16, Keith Middleton took the bowling to task and soon took his score to 29 before mis timing a pull. This brought Jonathon Lewis to the wicket and he showed great maturity to see the Green home along with Liam Paddock (23no) who hit the winning runs to take the Green to victory by seven wickets and give them 20 points.

Tomorrow (Saturday) the Green entertain Worcester.