PERSHORE II v BARNARDS GREEN II

THE Green travelled to local rivals Pershore with a team slightly altered to accommodate the four league teams that the Green are now fielding, in came the experienced Sam Freeman and youthful debutant Tom Banks.

The Green were asked to bat on a well worn but flat-looking track, they lost Freeman to his first ball and Yorke followed in the next over. Tom Clack hit a four then decided not to play a shot to a straight ball, this left the Green reeling on 14-3.

Lewis Hooper joined James Scullion and moved the score on to 25 when Hooper was caught in the covers for 11, the in-form Steve Metcalfe joined Scullion and they pushed the score along to 80 in the 23rd over until Scullion (20) was adjudged LBW.

Metcalfe was just about to cut loose when Jessup clung on to a sharp caught and bowled for 36, Spencer Snr made 10, Matt Brookes (8) was run out and Tom Banks looked comfortable until he went for a big shot and was caught in the deep.

This left the Green in all sorts of trouble 119-9 in the 38th over. The last pair of Graeame Glendenning and Sam Spencer then took centre stage, Glendenning stroked 39 in a partnership of 49 until he was caught in the deep leaving Spencer Jnr 14no.

The Green totalled 168 in the 48th over. For Pershore, Jessup took 6-76.

The Green took the field and Matt Brookes struck first, bowling D Brooks for six then caught and bowled Smith for 17 leaving Pershore 40-2.

Metcalfe bowled Haider for nine, then opener Taylor and Brown took the score to 104 when Spencer Snr stuck having Brown LBW for 14, a sharp caught and bowled for Hooper and Spencer bowled Jessup for four leaving Pershore 130-6 in the 39th over, John Brookes joined Taylor they took the score along to 152-7 when Spencer had Brookes well caught for 15, then Spencer bowled opener Taylor for 71.

Pershore needed seven runs with three wickets remaining and three overs left, Spencer took two more wickets leaving Pershore two runs for victory off the last over.

Lewis Hooper bowled five dot balls and on the last ball, keeper Glendenning missed a legside stumping chance allowing Johnson 11no to scramble a leg bye, this leaving the scores tied, both sides picked up 14 points. Skipper Spencer finished with 5-25.