Barnt Green 250-7 Shrewsbury 245 all out

Barnt Green won by five runs

ALL rounder Lyndon Jones produced a man of the match performance as Barnt Green defeated Shrewsbury in a thrilling match in the Birmingham and District League Premier Division on Saturday.

Jones' five wicket haul was crucial to reducing Shrewsbury's batting order as it strived to surpass Green's score 250.

However, it was all rounder Roger Sillence who took the crucial wicket, when he dismissed Shrewsbury tail ender Andy Barnard with just four balls of the match left to play.

Victory also made sure the defending champions enhanced their chances of finishing in third place in the Premier Division. They now trail Kenilworth Wardens by just 21 points.

Batting first Green recovered from a slow start to post a challenging total of 250. Richard Hall was caught by Jon Anders off Barnards' delivery for seven runs. Teenager Nathan Newport was then caught by Ed Foster off Antonio Mullins' delivery to leave Green in trouble.

Stuart Shephard (76) started Green's fight back, before he was bowled by Rob Foster. Roger Sillence, who has been absent all season because he had been playing for Worcestershire, also made an impact with the bat, as he struck a useful 48 before he was caught by Ed Foster.

Richard Wilkinson hit 70 runs before he was ran out, as Green recovered from a slow start to set Shrewsbury a challenging target of 251 for victory.

Anders (2-76) and Rob Foster (2-63) were the pick of Shrewsbury's bowlers.

Jones was the key bowler for Green as the home side looked to dismiss Shrewsbury cheaply.

However, the Shropshire side batted determinedly to rescue the match.

Jones had opener Jack Shantry caught by wicketkeeper Adam Smith for 28, before Ed Foster was removed by Wilkinson.

Shrewsbury batsmen Tom Cox (13), Mullins (18) and Rob Foster (20) fell foul of Jones but Green's opponents began to rally through middle-order pairing Mark Davies (33) and Anders (42).

The Shrewsbury duo made sure that the target for victory was in sight, before the home side's bowlers struck. David Wigley dismissed Davies and Jones had Anders caught by Newport.

Shrewsbury continued to battle on and tail ender Mark Lascelles hit 16, before Wigley bowled him, while Wayne Davies made 18.

Shrewsbury were close to victory when Someville was ran out for a duck and Sillence had Barnard caught by Smith for two runs, to make sure Green held their nerve for a last gasp win.