BARNARDS GREEN v BELBROUGHTON

KEVIN Golder smashed an unbeaten 112 and Andy Ford took 5-58 as Barnards Green thrashed Belbroughton by nine wickets in Crusader Worcestershire County League Division Two.

Golder's century saw his side ease home in 24 overs after being set 174 to win by the visitors.

After Barnards Green elected to field first, the new ball was entrusted to the experienced Tim Williams in the continued absence of injured overseas star Andrew Hoogstraaten.

The flow of runs was curtailed from an early stage due to tight bowling and excellent fielding from the hosts with Williams and Kevin Downes removing an opener apiece.

Belbroughton's scoring rate barely reached two runs per over and the visitors knew some lusty blows would be necessary to set a challenging total.

Williams finished an excellent spell of bowling with 2-31 from 19 overs when he was replaced by slow right-armer Chris Smedley (1-48).

The only Belbroughton batsman to get the better of the attack was Geoff Day. As the end of the innings approached, he began to open his shoulders to reach a well deserved 100 with a towering six off Smedley.

Day became another Ford victim when he was deceived by a big spinning off break for a brilliant 112. The remaining batsmen managed to nurdle the ball to reach a total of 173-9.

With opening pair Richard Williams and Golder keeping an eye on the dark clouds over the Malvern Hills, the latter went into overdrive.

He was harsh on all the bowlers as he cut, pulled and drove his way to a magnificent century, his second of the season and first at home.

The only blip was the unfortunate dismissal of Williams who was brilliantly stumped off the bowling of Robert Hawk.

Youngster Liam Paddock arrived to join Golder and played his role in a partnership of 70 by allowing Golder plenty of strike.

With just 24 overs of their reply gone, Golder dispatched the winning runs off the hapless Harris, whose two overs cost 29 runs.