THE Green 1st XI returned to winning ways on Saturday when they beat high-flying Lye by four wickets in the Worcestershire League Division Two.

BARNARDS GREEN 1ST XI v LYE 1ST XI

Winning the toss the Green asked the visitors to take first knock. They were soon rewarded when Jason Young bowled Ishtaiq second ball of the innings, three more wickets soon fell, leaving Lye on 19-4, but a stand of 65 by Stokes (34) and Lynch (33) pulled things around for the visitors. With Whitehouse (38) in the middle-order their total began to look more respectable, but then David Creese took over and was soon bowling a good line and length.

Wickets then fell at regular intervals, leaving Creese with figures of 6-25 off 11 overs and Jason Young with a fine spell to make the early breakthrough, with 3-26 off 14 overs. At close Lye were 144.

The Green lost Danny McKay early on, but the in-form Richard Williams (36) and Kevin Golder took command and put on 32 for the second wicket.

The Green then lost Golder and Jason Young in quick succession, but good knocks from Paul Drinkwater (21) and Mark Tompkins (22) took the Green within sight of victory and it was left to David Creese (13no) and Tim Clarke (8no) to see them home.

Creese finished it off with a six into the car park.

At close the Green were 147-6. Ishtaiq was the pick of the Lye attack taking 3-51 off 18 overs.

The Green would like to thank 3 of a Kind (hairdressers) for sponsoring the game.