Knowle and Dorridge 206 all out Barnt Green 210-7

Barnt Green won by

three wickets

A FINE display with the bat and ball from Lyndon Jones made sure that Barnt Green continued their resurgent form in the Birmingham and District League Premier Division by pouring more misery on relegation threatened Knowle away on Saturday.

The former captain was one of the defending champion's wicket takers as Green kept struggling Knowle restricted to 206 all out. Jones then stiffened up the home side's brittle batting order by hitting 96 not out to steer his side to a much needed victory.

The win over Knowle and Dorridge cemented Green's place in the upper echelons of mid-table and enhanced the team's chances of catching third placed Kenilworth Wardens. The sides are now separated by just ten points.

The home side's bowlers performed efficiently to grind down Knowle's batsmen. Gareth Williams made an early breakthrough when he had opener Smith trapped lbw.

The Knowle batsmen's fellow opener Marland fell minutes later when Matt Rawnsley dismissed him for lbw, as Green took control of the match.

However, the visitors rallied through Johnson and Bray as Knowle looked to gain some momentum with the bat.

But the fight back was quickly quelled when Jones had Bray caught by wicketkeeper Adam Smith for 21, before Worcestershire pace man Mehraj Ahmed caught and bowled Ahmed for 48.

With Knowle's top order batsmen dismissed the team could not threaten Barnt Green's bowlers. Rawnsley had Friend caught by teenager Nathan Newport for ten runs.

Rawnsley was Green's leading wicket taker, recording an economical 4-55 in 17 overs. Jones's contribution with the ball was also priceless, with an excellent three wicket haul for just 27 runs.

Green were looking for a strong start with the bat to quickly sweep aside Knowle but plans were thrown out of the window with the early loss of openers Richard Hall and Newport.

Hall was caught by Jamie Spires for just five runs, before Newport was bowled for just six runs.

In form Stuart Shephard was caught and bowled by Bray for 12. The Knowle bowler also removed Richard Wilkinson for eight runs as Green struggled to reach their target for victory.

But Paul Bedford (55) and Jones (96 all out) battled hard to get their side back on track for victory. While Jones remained Bedford was dismissed by Spires. However, a 15 run burst by Ahmed ensured that Green reached 210 in the middle of the 54th over.