This county league match between Barnards Green 2nd XI and Brockhampton 2nd X1 ended with a convincing victory for the Green over rivals who had finished in third place in the league last year.

Expecting a close game, skipper Dick Brown, restored to fitness after a two week lay off, was disappointed to lose the toss and have to bat first.

Opening bowlers, Langford and Lawson, bowled a disciplined line and length to restrict the score to just six runs off the first seven overs until the first wicket fell, Chris Hill bowled by Langford for a duck.

Jamie Drew also went for a duck, smartly stumped by Howells off Lawson.

Kevin Golder was now starting to strike the ball more confidently and was supported by Paul Drinkwater in a 50 run partnership which ended in the 27th over when Golder got a ball from Langford that kept low and bowled him.

The same bowler managed to repeat the feat, bowling Drinkwater for 21 to leave the Green in an unpromising position on 72-4 with just 20 overs remaining.

John Sherliker tried to take the attack to the bowlers, hitting his first ball for four and risking some short singles before running out the luckless Keith Middleton for 9.

Judd Doughty joined Sherliker at the crease and together the pair added 43 runs in eight overs as Langford tired and Sherliker hit him for three boundaries in his final over.

In the final overs Sherliker was out for 55 when Hope held on to a fiercely struck catch off his own bowling and Hancock guided the home side to a score of 192-8 off the 50 overs.

The Brockhampton opening pair of Jennings and Howells scored quickly from the start with Jennings proving particularly strong off his legs.

After some initial problems with his run-up quick bowler Bradley Adams produced a beauty to bowl Howells for 12 and Lawson soon followed, unable to cope with a quick straight one.

The next wicket went to first change bowler, Judd Doughty, when Carter skied a ball into the safe hands of Keith Middleton at mid off.

Hope, was also bowled for a duck by the fired up Adams but Jennings was still despatching anything loose to the boundary and looked capable of winning the match for the visitors.

Paul Drinkwater took a straightforward catch at point to give Doughty his second wicket and then Adams claimed the key wicket, forcing Jennings to offer a chance to a tumbling Golder at midwicket.

Victory appeared certain for the Green as the visitors collapsed to 110-8 but K Lawson had other ideas as he swung his bat vigorously, making 37 quick runs before becoming the last victim of Bradley Adams (7-57).

Match sponsors were Just Sew of Barnards Green.