BARNARDS Green entertained Hagley on Saturday at North End Lane looking for a fourth WCL division two straight win to maintain their good start to the season.

BARNARDS GREEN v HAGLEY

Chris Smedley won the toss and with the weather showing signs of potential disruption had no hesitation in asking Hagley to bat first.

Tim Williams and Ian Scullion started accurately but were unable to force a breakthrough. Williams managed to draw a number of edges all of which eluded the three awaiting slips.

However, when the ball deflected off Smedley's leg at first slip, the Hagley batsmen attempted to take a single and Adam Binks quickly swooped and with a direct hit at the bowler's end inflicted the first wicket.

Soon after the rain came and left Hagley 52-1 after 15.2 overs. Heavy rain followed and left the outfield under an inch of water.

However, sterling work from the ground staff for 90 minutes got the ground playable. With the game reduced to 26 overs Hagley were left only 11 more overs to bat.

The Green's bowlers all worked hard but Hagley managed to find the boundary a number of times and closed on 141-4 off 26 overs.

In reply, the Green lost Rich Williams early. However, Daniel Flynn and Paul Drinkwater paced the innings well and found the boundary regularly. Flynn reached his 50 with a huge six which cleared the stream over long-on. Drinkwater soon followed him to a very gutsy 50, finding more and more fluency as his innings went on.

Drinkwater fell with the Green three short of victory and this left Flynn and Golder to see the Green home with more than three overs to spare.

This win leaves the Green 11 points clear of Bromyard and 30 clear of Netherton in third place at the top of division two of the Worcestershire League.

Tomorrow (Saturday) the Green travel to Pedmore and then they entertain Nomads on Bank Holiday Monday, looking to maintain their lead at the top.

Thanks to match day sponsor D. W Stokes General Builder, Powick.