Himbleton II 225-8, Barnards Green IV 221-8.

THE first home match of the season saw a much-changed Green side entertain Himbleton at Newland.

Himbleton scored 225-8. A below-par fielding performance gifted the visitors at least 30 runs and was to prove costly.

Robin Longmore made his first Saturday appearance of the season, opening for The Green with debutant John Barr, who was caught for 52 off the bowling of Chris Pretty.

Barr pushed singles and looked to be untroubled until he wandered across his stumps and fell lbw to Preece for 16.

Elliot Hennessy, Mark Perkins and Dick Brown all fell to Byrne for respectable scores but the slow run rate was becoming alarming.

Hunt (1) failed for once with the bat while Rich Wall batted sensibly for 18.

After Dave Price fell to a Rogers catch, the Green looked in trouble.

Jack Cullity and Ryan Scullion had other ideas as they disregarded the skipper’s instructions and went for the win.

Cullity eventually perished on 36 leaving Alley, barren with the ball, to try to find enough edges to secure the runs needed.

Ridiculous running between the wickets got Green in touch so that they needed five runs from the last ball.

When Alley stroked the ball to short mid-wicket and ran an easy single the game was over, despite his best efforts to run his partner out and throw the game away by going for an impossible second.

Himbleton achieved the winning draw.