Himley 163-7 Barnt Green 166-5

Barnt Green beat Himley

by five wickets

BARNT Green returned to winning ways to keep themselves in the running for the Birmingham and District League Premier Division title on Saturday. TITLE CHARGE: Barnt Green returned to winning ways against Himley.

The comfortable victory, their first in the league for four weeks, over Himley means that the Cherry Hill Road side has returned to second behind runaway leaders West Bromwich Dartmouth.

New Zealander Kris Howes, the returning Richard Wilkinson and Roger Sillence produced key performances as Green overcame a poor start to win emphatically.

Green's opponents batted first, but had no answer to the rampant Howes, who took 3-18 in nine overs, and collapsed to 79-5.

Captain Richard Illingworth (2-45) and Worcestershire's David Wigley (2-54) also took wickets.

However, Illingworth's side met stiff resistance from Wright (34), Ahmed (23 not out) and Wedge (28 not out) as Himley rallied to make a meagre 163-7 in their 55 overs.

Surpass

Green, who have been struggling with the bat all season, struggled to surpass Himley's slender total.

Matt Dallaway is still to find his usual form and was bowled by Wedge for nought.

This sparked a collapse, as Richard Hall (14) and Steve Williams (10) went cheaply.

But Gloucestershire all rounder Sillence (86 not out) and Wilkinson (40), making his first league game start of the season, restored Barnt Green's superiority.

While Lampitt caught Wilkinson off Pearce's delivery, Illingworth added seven runs as Green moved to 166-5.

First team manager Paul Clarke said: "It was good to get the victory.

"Kris Howes bowled incredibly well, at one point he was unstoppable."

"We're back just behind the leaders now and it's a matter of keeping the pressure on them."

Barnt Green will be aiming to keep the pressure on the leaders on Saturday when they take on 2004 champions Wellington away from home (1pm start).

Clarke is expecting an almost full strength side to take on Wellington, who are struggling in mid-table, with Paul Bedford the only doubt.