Cricket
Green enjoy that winning feeling

BARNT Green got back to Birmingham League Premier Division winning ways with a 32-run victory at Brockhampton on Saturday.

Dougie Brown’s men went into the contest without a win to their name since June 9 but impressive displays from Richard Wilkinson and Tom Burton helped the Cherry Hill Road side grab a fourth victory of the campaign to leave them sixth in the table ahead of tomorrow’s home clash with third placed Berkswell.

Brown chose to bat first but then saw James Ord (19) and Nathan Newport (7) fall early as Green slipped to 36-2.

That brought Burton and Wilkinson together and the pair steadied the ship in impressive fashion, adding 108 for the third wicket to give the visitors a solid platform.

Burton made 66 (89 balls, 11 fours) and Wilkinson 75 (122 balls, seven fours and two sixes) as Green closed on 233-9 with an aggressive unbeaten 17 from Nicholas Powell giving the innings some late impetus.

Chris Boroughs was the pick of the home attack with 3-57 whilst support came from Callum Stewart (2-41), Charlie Griffiths (2-67) and Adam Hewlett (1-36).

The visitors made a dream start with the ball in their hand, reducing Brockhampton to 3-2 as Andrew Sutton and Powell removed Adam Hewlett (1) and Boroughs (0) respectively.

Opener Ben Stebbings remained solid but he continued to watch wickets fall at the other end as Sutton (3-23) struck twice more to make it 31-4.

Joe Crichard (19), Jonny Walker (19) and Chris Powell (22) tried to offer Stebbings some useful support but Green kept chipping away on their way to victory.

Stebbings eventually fell for 90 (143 balls, 12 fours and one six) before Powell (3-27) bowled Griffiths to dismiss the home side for 201 in the 51st over.

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