The Singles deployed more new faces and welcomed back some regulars in another important holiday-season win. With Kevin Ratcliffe still absent, Steve Beavan again held the reins, and needed little thought before asking Brintons to bat on a wicket that showed green patches and early life. Hill nagged on off stump as usual while Churchill, younger and faster, varied his length and induced two early catches. Simon Clarke dived at square leg to remove Jones, and Maiden edged behind to the alert White.

Colley and Tonks regrouped but were very slow until halfway, when the wicket eased and the change bowlers appeared. Shane Thompson was erratic, but removed Colley (23) and Turner. Rich Brown also had trouble finding any length, but bowled Powell for a duck. Though Waldron jr was soon lbw to Judd Doughty, Brintons refused to fold and progressed through good knocks by Waldron sr (31) and the adhesive Tonks (61 no). Doughty bowled well at the death. Despite their usual tendency to slacken in the field, the Green went to tea reasonably happy and needing fewer than 4 per over.

The main point now was to remove the shine and keep the score gently ticking. Bryan and Waldron, even younger and faster, were initially dangerous and willing to post short legs and silly mid offs. Paul Yorke, who had looked sleepy all afternoon, struck three boundaries but then flashed again and was bowled, interrupting his remarkable summer of high scores. Hill saw that care and prodding were needed, and for ten overs he left the scoring to Doughty and to the growing number of fast wides. Bryan was tidy but Waldron, having made the breakthrough, conceded 23 next over, and Brintons never recovered.

Doughty, always looking to drive a full length, reached a fine 50 and then, either side of drinks, Hill struck a half dozen emphatic 4s to join him. The scoring rate leapt and the Singles rushed to an apparently easy win, preferring to forget their poorer spells of fielding and some ticklish moments against the new ball. With speculation rife about how his weighty middle order of Wheeler and Brown would have performed, skipper Beavan calmly collected another 20 points.

Brintons 170-7 (45 overs; D Tonks 61 no); Barnards Green 172-1 (25.3 overs; J Doughty 63 no, C Hill 60 no)

Saturday 12th August - Romsley vs BGCC 2nd XI

After a run of four games when the green have come off worse in tight situations , they travelled to lowly Romsley hoping to kick start their season.

Having been asked to bat they lost Brewer for 5 in the 4th over, Jez Clarke joined Jon Lewis these two proceeded to put on 48 for the second wicket until Lewis was bowled for a fluent 45, inform Roger Thompson joined Clarke and between them took the attack to the home side, Thompson continued his fine run of half centuries clubbing four sixes in his 69, Clarke followed soon after for 50 leaving the green 188 for 4 after 26 overs, Tom Clack and Lewis Hooper then began an impressive stand of 82 until Clack was caught for an excellent 55 containg 7 fours, Hooper followed shortly afterwards for 54 ,this put the green in a strong position which was improved on by Sam Sencer and Duncan Bell who hit 29no and 20 , leaving the Green on an impressive 372 for 8 after their 50 allotted overs, for Romsley Ward bowled well to return figures of 4 for 95 off 17 overs.

In reply the Romsley innings got off to a bad start when Glendenning took a sharp leg side catch off scullion, and Bell took three quick wickets in an impressive opening burst leaving the home team struggling on 27 for 4 after 7 overs. The only chance of Romsley gaining a result lay with G.Pickering who normally shines for the first team, he looked at home and was soon plundering the boundry , Sam Spencer was instrumental in making the break through by first running out the stubborn Jadayel for 17 and then taking a difficult return catch to dismiss the dangerous Pickering for 49, Lewis Hooper chipped in with two wickets and Sam Spencer bowled the last man to leave Romsley allout for 134 ,giving the green victory by a massive 238 runs. This gave the green 24 much needed points.

Saturday 12th August - BGCC 1st XI vs Romsley

Barnards Green welcomed Romsley and Hunnington C.C. to North End Lane for their return fixture in the Crusader Div. 1 W. C. L. Barnards Green captain Chris. Smedley won the toss, and elected to bat first. Their innings got off to a relatively slow start with 33 runs coming from the first 10 overs for the loss of Kev Golder's wicket caught in the gully for ( 7 ). Rich Williams also went two overs later for ( 22 ) leaving Liam Paddock to be joined by Rob McCard to establish some order to the proceedings. This they did, increasing the scoring rate considerably, so that by over 20 the team score stood at 107 for 2. Rob and Liam both had their eye in and increased the momentum even more, scoring 90 runs off the next 10 overs, with shot to all parts of the ground. This was too good to last, and Liam Paddock on ( 76 ) was the one to fall. Another great innings, from this promising young cricketer.

Rob McCard was next joined by Tim Clarke ( 12 ) then Adam Binks ( 27 ) and he just went on and on finishing with 198 not out by the 49th over, when the Barnards Green innings was declared closed for a record Saturday League score on the North End Lane ground of 393 for 5.with Rob McCard's 198 n.o. being the highest ever score recorded by any batsman, in any team, playing in the Crusader Worcestershire County League. Congratulations Cobber.

In reply to this enormous total, the Romsley & Hunnington team had only thoughts of survival, and played very defensively through out their 51 overs, managing to hold out to the end scoring 217 for 8. Andy Ford was the pick of the Greens bowlers returning figures of 5 for 52 from his 20 overs, with 6 maidens .(Great bowling Andy.) The other wickets falling to Rob. McCard ( 2 for 69 ) and Phil Harris ( 1 for 21 ) This was a better all round team performance with some excellent fielding, especially that catch in the deep by Tim Clarke to dismiss their last recognised batsman in the 48th over which gave just a glimpse of a possible win, but it was not to be.

Barnards Green CC - 15 Points for a winning draw.Romsley & Hunnington - 6 Points.