BARNARDS GREEN III v BIRLINGHAM

IN the opening round of matches in Division Three South, Barnards Green entertained Birlingham and visiting skipper Rob Drake elected to bat.

The openers got them off to a steady start putting on 33 for the first wicket. The introduction of A Sanders into the attack brought instant reward as Drake was well caught at square-leg by Steve Bevan.

With Richard Brown bowling an excellent spell wickets began to fall at regular intervals. Brown had the dangerous Styles caught behind by White for 24, Dave Hill was smartly run out by Simon Clarke for 23. George Lucking, on his debut, picked up two wickets at the end to leave Birlingham 171 all out in the 42nd over.

What followed amounted to a very disappointing batting performance. Doughty and Ratcliffe put on 31 for the first wicket before Doughty was smartly caught by Styles at short-cover off Fensome. Three more wickets then fell to leave the Green struggling at 37-4. Roger Thompson (52) played a controlled innings but with wickets falling regularly at the other end, the conclusion was inevitable with the Green all out for 128.

Tomorrow (Saturday) Green travel to Canon Frome.