BARNARDS Green seconds entertained The Cuckoos, a team from Stafford, on Sunday.

After a week of hot weather, sunday saw temperatures plummet with a cold easterly wind, but with the ground in A1 condition, it was good for players to get back out in the middle.

Skipper Marc Jones won the toss and elected to bat, but when Chris Genever was bowled around his legs wthout scoring, this looked an unwise decision.

Further wickets soon fell and only Lee Dyment (44) really mastered the swinging and seaming ball. Derek Goodman looked good before he too was bowled around his legs and it was left to the patient Marek Wajzer (17) to partner Dyment and take the score on to respectability.

A few lusty blows from Robin Longmore and Brian Bartlett helped take the score to 130 at tea.

In reply, Cuckoos soon found that the target would be challenging as young Patrick Jelley and left arm seamer Brian Bartlett bowled an excellent spell.

Jelley in particular bowled beautifuly and fully deserved his two wickets, one from a good catch by Wajzer.

With the two opening bowlers bowled out, the Green then lost the plot somewhat as short deliveries were plundered to the boundary at ease.

However, Jamie Longmore then found a good line and length and picked up four useful wickets, but this proved to be a little too late and Cuckoos eased home with two wickets to spare.