HAVING been rained off the previous Saturday against Birlingham, the Green 2nd XI were desperate to take revenge for an early season defeat by Dominies in order to maintain their challenge at the top of WCL Division Three.

BARNARDS GREEN 2ND XI V DOMINIES & GUILD 2ND XI

Skipper Dick Brown won the toss and asked the visitors to bat first on a warm sunny afternoon. Box and M Loynes made a slow start and Stuart Fletcher soon had the former caught behind by Mark Perkins who also took a catch to give Rich Brown a wicket when Loynes tried to turn a ball to leg but could only flick it high in the air.

Clements started confidently hitting a series of boundaries on both sides of the wicket until he mistimed another big shot off Fletcher to give Paul Yorke a simple catch in the covers.

The Green then took control as Fletcher claimed two more wickets to record his second four wicket haul in consecutive games and Simon Clarke had M Heugenin caught by Dave White at mid wicket to reduce Dominies to 100-6 at the mid point of their innings.

Wayne Humphries started shakily but gradually started to time the ball better and with help from J Heugenin (31) and Ford (13no) he guided the visitors to 201-8, finishing on 77 not out. Fletcher (4-66) and Clarke (3-60) were the key to keeping the total to a manageable level.

In reply Brian Hancock started as he has batted all season, defending carefully and punishing any over pitched balls with powerful drives in the air from mid off to mid wicket. Paul Yorke and Dave White gave him little support but Jonathan Lewis picked up singles sensibly to keep the board moving.

John Sherliker (42) took a few risks to get the run rate up to the required level and his stand of 75 with Hancock took the Green to 131 leaving 70 runs needed from the last 17 overs. Robbie Lewis took no risks but hit the bad balls cleanly as the Dominies captain experimented with a range of bowlers in search of wickets.

Some jovial barracking from the crowd broke Lewis' concentration and he uncharacteristically slapped a short ball from J Loyner straight to cover leaving skipper Dick Brown to hit a couple of boundaries and bring up the winning total with three overs in hand.

Opener Brian Hancock continued his remarkable run of form finishing on 86 not out and pushing his league average back over 100.

Thanks to match sponsor Connell Racing.