BARNARDS Green 3rds travelled to Worcester on Saturday to take on fourth placed Bewdley in a WCL 3rd team clash.

BEWDLEY III v BARNARDS GREEN III

Newly appointed Green captain Andy Wheeler lost the toss and was asked to bat on a pitch looking good for batting. Green openers, the young Paul Yorke (44) and experienced Rob Lewis (12) made a steady start against a mixed attack of youth and experience.

The in form Andy Wheeler and improving Marc Jones (32) then tried to up the pace of the innings. Wheeler (36 - 6 fours and a six) decided as usual that running was a waste of energy! After losing three quick wickets, it was left to Ned Anderson (30no) and Lee Hooper (24) to keep the score moving. The two ran non-stop for seven overs with 14 (two 4's and two 3's) all run in one over. The Green finished on a creditable 224 for 7 off 45 overs.

The Green surrounded the bat from the start, which left gaps in the field for Brown and Cowdrey to find with ease in the early overs, until Jamie Longmore (5 for 56 off 16 overs) too the vital wicket of Cowdrey (13). Bewdley the lost interest in a run chase and only Brown (61) and Allen (25) made any impact on the score. It was left to Anderson (1-9) and Mat Brookes (1-39) to tie up the ever increasingly defensive batsmen. Even the flight of Wheeler failed to make much impact on the score as Bewdley shut up shop.

It was left to Green's ever improving young bowlers to try to make a break in their defences and Hooper was unlucky not to take a wicket in the last five overs with all the field around the bat. Bewdley limped to a total of 176 for 7 off their 45 overs.

The Green entertain Feckenham at Newlands tomorrow (Saturday) and hope to pick up more than the 15 points they got from this game.