BARNARDS Green visited Birlingham in this Crusader Worcestershire County League Division Three match on Saturday.

BIRLINGHAM v BARNARDS GREEN

Once again rain played a part, with showers and drizzle further affecting an already wet pitch. Birlingham won the toss and put the Green into bat.

Rich Williams was straight into his stride, being particularly quick onto anything short, with a flurry of early boundaries. Martin Downes was as reliable as ever, getting significant bounce and movement off the wet pitch. Williams and Jez Clarke put on 49 before the former was smartly caught for 36.

Flynn and Tim Clarke soon followed, which bought Jez Clarke and Chris Smedley together. At 104-3 after 34 overs, the Green were well placed for a sizeable total on a difficult wicket. However the rain became too heavy and an early tea was taken.

After tea, the rain ceased and a 40 over game was agreed. Jez Clarke went almost immediately for a stubborn 36 and Paul Drinkwater followed soon after. Rob Richards hit some clean blows before holing out in the deep. This left Smedley (35no) to see the final overs through and take the Green to 144-6. Forty runs were added in the final six overs.

Birlingham started their reply well with 40 coming off the first 10 overs. The turning point was a stunning piece of inspirational fielding by Dan Flynn. The dangerous Andy Howorth flicked the ball away hard on the leg side, Flynn dived full length at square leg and held the ball one handed in mid air.

Spares soon followed to Doughty after a sharp stumping from Glendinning. Drake and Jenkins battled hard to get Brilingham back into the game, but never found it easy against the extremely accurate Doughty and Flynn. They both fell to Doughty in quick succession to catches from T Clarke and Smedley. When Bell brilliantly caught Styles on the boundary and Doughty bowled Lawton, the Green sniffed victory.

Williams then returned to clean bowl Haynes and the excitement rose. However with overs running out, the final Birlingham pair hung on for the draw. Doughty bowled a superb spell of medium pace and was well rewarded with figures of 5-34 off 17 overs.

An excellent game played in a very competitive atmosphere rewarded the Green with 12 points.

The Green are still be looking for their first win of the rain hit season tomorrow (Saturday) when they entertain Dominies & Guild at North End Lane.