BARNARDS Green visited Birlingham in the Worcestershire County League Division Three on Saturday and had to settle for a draw.

BIRLINGHAM v BARNARDS GREEN

On a wet pitch Rich Williams won the toss and elected to bowl. However, in favorable bowling conditions openers Howorth and Drake set about the Green bowling, punishing anything short or wide.

Howorth was particularly aggressive playing aerial shots all around the wicket and helping his team to a start of over six an over. Scullion and Spencer (4-71) managed to stem the flow of runs and J Clarke and R A Brown snapped up excellent catches. The run rate remained high throughout despite wickets being lost at regular intervals. The Green squandered some chances in the field and weren't at the normal high standard. Birlingham closed on 227-6.

The Green's reply got off to a steady start, reaching 35 without loss after 11 overs. However by the half way point the middle order had stumbled on an increasingly difficult pitch with the bounce becoming very variable as the pitch dried out.

After 24 overs the Green were 61-4. At this point T Clarke (41) came to the wicket and played with great aggression, playing some superb straight shots.

Phil Spencer again played some powerful shots in an entertaining knock that gave an outside chance of victory. However, a short rain shower meant that two overs were lost and the further loss of wickets meant the Green had to settle for a draw with Scullion and Brown seeing the Green safely through to the close and seven points.

Thanks to match sponsors Clarke Roxburgh.

Tomorrow (Saturday) the Green entertain Alveley.