Barnards Green 274-5, Bromyard 170-7.

BARNARDS Green’s Liam Paddock scored an unbeaten 113 as his side gained a winning draw against rivals Bromyard.

Visiting skipper Zahid Saeed won the toss and asked the Green to bat first.

However, they had few problems batting on their home patch at North End Lane.

Richard Williams got an inside edge to Zahid and lost his off stump, having made eight, to make the score 20-1 in the fifth over. But from here the South Malvern side dominated the rest of the day’s play.

A composed innings from number three, 15-year-old George Rhodes, and some aggressive strokes from Kevin Golder took the score to 73 in the 20th over before Golder was bowled for 31 by Pete Whittenbury.

It came as something of a surprise when Rhodes got a leading edge to Whittenbury and was caught at point for 42 off 75 balls.

Another wicket soon afterwards for Whittenbury saw Chris Smedley being held at mid-on by James Hine having made two. This put the match back in the balance at 144-4 in the 36th over.

Paddock began to score freely and Bromyard were reduced to 10 men when a lofted drive was misjudged by Hine at long-on.

He dived back and got a hand on the ball, but landed awkwardly and had to sit out the closing 10 overs of the innings with an injured back.

Phil Harris played a valuable cameo at the other end, including a six off Zahid, before being bowled by the paceman for 42 off just 36 balls.

Adam Binks contributed 11no off eight balls in the closing overs, but Paddock finished on 113no off just 95 balls with 13 fours and three sixes.

His side scored 110 off their last 10 overs to finish on 274-5. In reply, Ash Bullock and Ollie Bailey soon looked at home, but with the score at 37 in the ninth over Bailey was caught for 15 having edged a drive to Green’s overseas player, left-arm swing bowler Nick Murphy.

Edd Oliver made six before missing a low full toss from home skipper Tim Williams and was bowled, and when Bullock was caught at slip from off-spinner Andy Ford’s second ball for 20, Bromyard had slipped to 50-3 after 13 overs.

Jerry Leighton and Zahid steadied the ship before the latter was judged lbw to Smedley for 18.

This made the score 75-4 in the 26th over, but Greg Leighton joined his father and looked in control before the return of Murphy saw him bowled for 13.

With the victory target out of reach Bromyard, a 38-ball knock of 39 from Whittenbury took them past 150 before he was caught.

Dave Taylor was out for three as Bromyard closed on 170-7 from their 50 overs.