BARNARDS Green Singles kept a useful lead in the WCL division four by defeating second-placed Badsey by five wickets on Saturday.

BARNARDS GREEN III SINGLES v BADSEY

Badsey had youth and agility, but the Green had deeper batting and bowling. In all, 15 wickets fell on a docile track, with both sides guilty of inept strokeplay.

Kevin Ratcliffe won the toss and watched Churchill and Hill beat the bat without reward, while the Badsey openers took any chance to drive at a full length. Westmacott was dropped twice.

Fresh tactics were needed, and Ratcliffe conjured a double breakthrough in fine style. First he posted two gullies to cut off Powell's loose but powerful square drives; Hill kept the required tight line, and Powell lost his off stump. Then he introduced Metcalfe's medium pace and immediately caught Westmacott (31) at point.

The match pattern was set as batsman after batsman made a fair start before succumbing to a flail or an edge. Justin McMillan had Nick Powell well-caught at slip, but then took some punishment, Mabbett was aggressive from the start, and Thompson used his height and a long stride intelligently. Metcalfe's cutters undid them both.

Ratcliffe, missing two regular change bowlers, made another key decision. Steve Beavan (4-15), despite sore tendons, struck four times as Badsey revealed a young and weak middle order. Skipper Dave Powell (21no) did his best to nurse the tail, but with two overs left McMillan's throw from the deep brought a conclusive run-out.

Chasing 182 and aware of nearby rainstorms, the Green started steadily but then produced some poor shots. Freeman cut a wide long hop straight to deep point, and Ratcliffe lobbed a feeble pull to mid-wicket. Jamie Curtis made room to force a slow Powell lob and Dave White was determined to reach another one on the full, both made no contact and were embarrassingly bowled.

The remaining Singles began to fret and pad-up, but finally Metcalfe and Paul Yorke showed some sense, taking simple runs and waiting for the many bad balls and extras. Thompson had plenty of fire but his inconsistent line was expensive.

Yorke (80no), still in glorious form, swept and drove as the last 50 runs arrived with fewer alarms. Metcalfe played within himself for 24no.

The Green finished early on 186-5, avoided the heavy rain, and earned 20 points.