THE GREEN 1st XI gained a winning draw on Saturday when Cookley were the visitors to North End Lane in a Worcestershire Division Two game.

BARNARDS GREEN 1ST XI v COOKLEY 1ST XI

Martin Heaton won the toss and decided to bat on a well-worn Cookley wicket. The Green lost Kevin Golder early on, Martin Heaton (14) joined Chris Hill (46) to add 19 runs, when Heaton was dismissed by Harris. Wickets fell at regular intervals, with Chris Hill needing to up the tempo, it was the late batsmen who had to take on this role. Richard Williams (25), Tim Williams (22 no) and David Creese (14) took the score to 168-9 at close. Goodman 3-46 off 12 overs and Sellet 2-63 off 17 overs were the pick of the Cookley attack.

Cookley made a good start with Harris (30) and Dixon (25) putting on 62 for the first wicket, with Jason Young taking the stick.

But it was David Creese who made things difficult for Cookley with an excellent performance of left-arm bowling. He bowled unchanged and at close returned figures of 3-37 off 25 overs, of these he bowled 14 maidens. Creese was well supported by Tim Clarke who returned figures of 4-57 off 19 overs.

This was a fine performance by the two spinners for at one time it looked as if the visitors were going to win at a canter. Again the Greens outfielding was at its best, which gave a great lift to the team.

At close Cookley were 28 runs short, giving the Green 13 points from the game, which keeps them in mid-table.

The Green wish to thank Apollo 2000 for sponsoring the game.