THE Green second team travelled to Kidderminster to play Victoria & Blakeley in this week's WCL game.

VICTORIA & BLAKELEY II v BARNARDS GREEN II

The batting line up looked rather stronger than in recent weeks due to the return of Andy Wheeler and Jamie Drew but the first wicket soon fell when Robbie Lewis played over a full pitched ball from R Webb.

It was not long before Andy Wheeler took control with a mixture of good shots and good luck as the fielders failed to hold a series of chances. As the boundaries flowed and the bowlers became increasingly frustrated, the score raced along at seven runs per over. D Webb was particularly unfortunate and despite bowling well was withdrawn from the attack having conceded 51 runs in nine overs.

With the score on 160 in the 23rd over Wheeler ran out of luck on 99 being bowled by Thomas having struck 14 4s and three 6s. John Sherliker and Jamie Drew sustained the run rate taking the score over 200 before Sherliker was bowled for 72

New batsman Mogsey Jones was unlucky enough to be well caught by Thomas to give Crighton his second wicket and Drew (44) was caught without any addition to the total. Rich Brown and Justin McMillan added useful runs to allow skipper Dick Brown to declare on 293 for 8 in the 43rd over.

The Victoria innings started strangely - after the first over Thomas had ten runs and had been dropped twice! Richard Brown then got his revenge by clean bowling him and deceiving Howell who gave a simple catch to Birch.

B Webb had obviously made up his mind to bat out the 57 overs and kept talking to the other batsmen to keep then concentrating. Jones took a good diving catch to dismiss Mitchel off Jamie Longmore's bowling but then D Webb and B Webb resisted for 13 overs. Rich Brown returned to the attack to deceive the obstinate B Webb with a lovely slower ball, which he pushed to Jamie Drew having scored 36 in the same number of overs.

John Sherliker's leg spinners induced false shots from D Webb, who was well caught one handed by Jamie Longmore, Howell and Cadwallader, who were also both caught.

With two wickets still to take skipper Dick Brown brought himself on to bowl and he immediately finished off a good day's work by hitting the stumps with his first two balls to earn his team the maximum 24 points.