A WEEK of wet weather meant that the Green Seconds were asked to bat first on a damp wicket in this WCL Division Two match.

BARNARDS GREEN II v BIRLINGHAM II

Opener Derek Goodman, however, soon declared his intentions with a perfectly timed straight six off Pausey's third ball and the score rose rapidly as his partner Simon Cooke pulled anything short to the leg side boundary.

Cooke was first to reach his half century but then holed out on the legside. John Sherliker joined Goodman at the crease and runs flowed more rapidly as he targeted the short boundary.

Goodman reached a well deserved century with a big six and Sherliker soon joined him before Goodman was unexpectedly caught behind off Hill, who got a ball to lift. This ended a second wicket partnership of 171 runs in just 22 overs and let skipper Dick Brown declare, leaving his bowlers 57 overs to claim maximum points.

In reply, Dave Hill opened his account with a six over cover, but he lost his partner Henning, who was bowled by Matt Brookes, and was then dismissed himself, bowled by Lee Hooper.

Justin Macmillan had Davies caught by Cooke and when Duncan Bell returned to the attack to clean bowl top scorer Gorman (28) and Watkins, the visitors realised they had no chance of victory. It was Rob Lewis who made sure of the 24 points by dismissing the last two batsmen with consecutive deliveries.

Match sponsors were Aldine Print.