BARNARDS Green 2nd X1 tightened their grip on top position in the WCL second division with a convincing victory over local rivals Malvern Ramblers.

MALVERN RAMBLERS II v BARNARDS GREEN II

For the fifth time in a row, skipper Dick Brown won the toss and invited Ramblers to bat first on a Regency Road wicket which was to prove helpful to the bowlers all game.

Opening bowlers Lee Hooper and Rich Brown started well and restricted the scoring early on as the latter claimed the wicket of Bywater, clean bowled for nine.

David Cox and Ray Evans built a partnership of 44 runs as Cox (40), in particular, dealt severely with any loose bowling. When Jamie Longmore was brought into the attack, he quickly established a good line and length and then deceived Cox with a good slower ball which the batsman could only scoop into the hands of Dick Brown at midwicket.

Ian Walwyn tried to keep the score moving with some quick singles but he tried this once too often and Alec Lamb gathered quickly, pivoted and threw down the stumps to dismiss Evans for 29.

From the comfortable position of 83-2 in the 20th over Ramblers collapsed to 102-5 in the 30th as Dick Brown claimed a couple of wickets and Longmore bowled Wells second ball.

Saul and Hooper added some useful runs before Goodman combined with RA Brown to run out Saul for 18. The surface of the wicket was now starting to become dusty and Dick Brown found considerable turn with his off breaks, having Bird caught in the deep to gain his third wicket.

The final pair, Mark Cox and Hooper, added some respectability to the score with an an unbroken partnership of 27 to take the home side to a total of 188 in their 50 overs.

In reply, Paul Yorke hit one boundary but was immediately bowled by Cox trying to repeat the shot as the bowlers gained the upper hand. John Sherliker then hit half a dozen boundaries off some loose deliveries, being dismissed for 29, caught behind off Cox as he tried to tickle a ball down to fine leg. Alec Lamb played a wild shot to be bowled by Bird for one and Hooper pushed the ball into Evans' hands on the leg side to give the bowler his second wicket, leaving the Green on 62-4 in the 21st over.

However, the dependable Chris Hill was still there on 18no and he found an ally in Derek Goodman who struck four good boundaries off Mark Cox before being run out by a direct hit on the stumps for 26.

Coming in at number seven, Keith Middleton could not decide what do with a ball from Hooper which turned considerably and offered the bowler a simple return chance which brought skipper Dick Brown to the crease with 68 runs still required for victory.

Now, Chris Hill (71no) started to attack with some cleanly hit drives and pulls to reach his half century. For the third time this season, Dick Brown (30no) kept his head to give Hill the support he needed to guide the Green to victory with one over to spare.