BARNARDS Green Seconds travelled up to Shropshire last Saturday for the WCL Division Three game against Highley.

HIGHLEY II v BARNARDS GREEN II

Skipper Dick Brown won the toss and asked the home side to bat first on a firm, dry wicket which looked full of runs.

Openers Brown and Unitt made a steady start until Robbie Lewis tempted Brown into a rash shot which gave the reliable hands of Robin Longmore a chance to hold the skied catch.

Jones (63) and Unitt then developed a long partnership, bringing up the hundred in the 24th over, as the Green's bowlers found it hard to hit a consistent line and length.

A big score appeared likely until Dick Brown brought himself into the attack bowling Unitt for 35. The cricket phrase 'one brings two' once again proved true as new batsman Parkin was run out by Dick Brown for a duck.

Jones found little support from the next two batsmen both bowled by the irrepressible Brown but G Parry showed he could hit the ball powerfully finding the boundary on several occasions.

Just as the pair were building a partnership Lee Hooper returned to the attack claiming three quick wickets and Jamie Longmore chipped in by dismissing Parry for 44 and taking two good one handed catches to end Highley's resistance as the innings closed on 190 in the 45th over.

It was a Robbie Lewis spell of 20 overs in which he conceded just 47 runs which limited the score to a reasonable level.

In reply Andy Wheeler showed his intent by smacking Jones' first ball back over his head (and the fence) for six. G Parry's bowling was however more testing and forced Wheeler to edge an attempted cut straight to the keeper.

Parry extracted some bounce and pace from the track and moved the ball away late to cause problems for both Bob Rogers and John Sherliker while Brown, bowling left arm over, also found late swing, making the batsmen concentrate hard.

Rogers eventually misjudged this swing to be bowled for 26 but Sherliker started to take control, cutting parry for several boundaries and hitting Brown back over his head.

Henry Gregory (32no) played sensibly to give him good support and as the score mounted and the bowlers grew tired it became obvious that the Green would reach their target comfortably.

The change bowlers provided little challenge as the Green romped to victory in the 34th over with Sherliker (104no) completing his second league century of the season, having hit 16 fours and one six.