BARNARDS Green 2nd X1 consolidated their position in the top three of Division Two of the Worcestershire County League with a well deserved victory over Cookley.

Skipper Dick Brown won the toss and had no hesitation in asking the home side to bat first on a wicket which had several damp patches where water had seeped under the covers.

The opening pair of Berry and Williams, despite both being troubled by the pace of Brad Adams and the swing of Judd Doughty, made steady progress until the first wicket fell when Adams forced Williams to give a gentle catch to Paul Yorke in the covers.

The score was then taken on to 81 by Berry and Brown as the Green were unable to capitalise on chances offered by the batsmen. Berry was starting to time the ball cleanly, striking a number of boundaries as the ball sped away over the very fast outfield, until league debutant Matt Brookes had him caught by Jamie Drew at point for 46.

Chris Hill then bowled Brown for 24 and the fourth wicket fell to Matt Brookes with the score still below 100 in the 28th over. Mills then dominated the innings for the next 13 overs, scoring 50 runs mostly with powerful leg side shots but caused his own downfall when he hit the ball straight back to the bowler and set off for a single, leaving Hill with the simple task of returning the ball to the keeper to run him out by more than half the length of the wicket.

Renoldes was unfortunate to be well caught when he clipped a ball hard to Jamie Drew at midwicket off the bowling of Dick Brown. Platt managed to add another 25 runs but got scant support from the tail before he was caught by keeper Rich Birch off Doughty in the final over to end the home innings on 212.

The Green approached their task with a positive attitude, particularly Paul Yorke, who demonstrated his good eye for the ball by hitting good length deliveries from Horton over the infield as the score mounted quickly.

Despite losing Keith Middleton (14), who played on to give Mills his first wicket in the 8th over, and Jamie Drew who was caught behind off the same bowler, Yorke and new partner Paul Drinkwater ran aggressively, picking up lots of singles and turning ones into twos to keep the score moving at a good rate.

After they had put on 57 together Yorke (53) and Drinkwater (26) were both caught to leave the Green needing just over 100 to win with six wickets in hand.

Boundaries continued to flow freely as John Sherliker (21) and Judd Doughty (22) both made useful contributions but the tireless Mills continued to get some life out of the pitch and dismissed both of them to take his tally to 5 wickets for 86 in 22 overs.

He found little support from the other bowlers, however, as Dick Brown (38no) and Chris Hill (14no) saw the Green to victory with seven overs to spare.