FOLLOWING promotion into the Worcestershire County League division one, Barnards Green 1st XIs opening match away at Pershore was a wake-up call for what could lie ahead.

PERSHORE V BARNARDS GREEN

The Green's captain Chris Smedley won the toss and put Pershore in to bat on a firm, dry pitch with a fast outfield. He and his senior players must have regretted this as Pershore's batsmen got off to a solid start of 158-2 at the halfway mark of their 50 overs.

The only Barnards Green bowler to put pressure on the batsmen was

Tim Williams, who finished his 14 overs with an excellent 5-77, their other bowlers proving too expensive as Pershore closed their innings on 290-9.

Opener M Stevens (98) and New Zealander R Rivers-Smith (75) contributing the two best innings while six other Pershore batsmen only scored three run between them.

In reply, the Green's top order batsmen never got to grips with their task and by the 25-over mark had slumped to a score of 80-5 and in deep trouble. The main reason for this being Pershore's M Johnson's valiant opening bowling returns of 21 overs, 7 mdns, 53 runs, 3 wickets.

These obstacles did not however prevent fighting innings from both Rob McCard (Green's new overseas player from Australia) and Adam Binks (wicket keeper), who between them steadied the ship for several vital overs, not scoring so freely as they normally do, but staying at the crease and frustrating the Pershore attack.

Eventually they were both out, and with the score now at 118-8 and with 10 overs still remaining, a defeat looked the most likely outcome, but Paul Drinkwater (17no) together with Jez Clarke (14no) against all the odds, battled Barnards Green through to the end of their allotted 50 overs for a nerve-tingling finish and a drawn game.