Redditch 151 all out, Barnards Green I 152-7.

FOLLOWING a hard-fought losing draw against Worcester Nomads, Green travelled north to Redditch in the second round of matches in the Crusader League Division One.

Visiting skipper Tim Williams had no hesitation in inserting the home side upon winning the toss.

A probing opening spell from both Williams and Nick Murphy provided almost immediate dividends when opener Hill was caught by Liam Paddock for a duck.

The Redditch wickets soon tumbled and Green were left with a testing total of 152.

After losing Golder for just three, Green suffered a further early setback with Rhodes offering a comfortable catch to Davis off veteran Merry to leave the visitors 31-2.

Luckily, Paddock and Rich Williams put together an important partnership with Williams particularly harsh on Merry, crashing several boundaries including a massive pulled six over the vacant mid- on region.

Then Williams was the victim of a difficult lbw decision after he made a well-composed 33, Chris Smedley and Andy Ford both contributed valuable runs, scoring 17 and 15 respectively to edge the visitors ever closer to the required total.

With Paddock the mainstay, scoring a watchful 59no, it was left to the swashbuckling Jez Clarke to see the visitors home with a valuable brace of clubbed boundaries.

Mason finished with 3-34 for the home side but it was the excellent bowling performance of Ford, Murphy, Williams and Smedley which allowed the talented Paddock to guide the Green to their first victory of the season.

This weekend, North End Lane plays host to Herefordshire rivals Bromyard with admission free to all.