Cricket
Tough test for Barnt Green

WHILST Barnt Green head into the final two games of the season knowing they are unable to retain their Birmingham League Premier Division title, they also know they can still have a big say in who does lift the trophy at the end of the current campaign.

Dougie Brown’s men entertain Himley in their final home game of the season tomorrow with the visitors firmly involved in the race for top spot, sitting four points behind leaders Walsall.

Green will be determined to end on a disappointing campaign on a high note and sign off from Cherry Hill Road with a victory to their name as they look to build on Saturday’s 61-run success at Shrewsbury.

James Ord (32) and Nathan Newport (26) got Green off to a solid start after they were asked to bat first but the innings faltered somewhat as the visitors lost four wickets for 25 runs to fall to 87-4.

Craig Crowe (36) and Brown (13) steadied the ship by adding 51 for the fifth wicket but once that partnership was broken wickets began falling again.

Alex Blofield (3-24) led the way with the ball for Shrewsbury as Green lost their final wicket at 176 in the 54th over.

Nicholas Powell (2-22) and Andrew Sutton (2-17) removed Shrewsbury’s top order cheaply as they fell to 30-4 at the start of their reply.

Stephen Bevan (4-35) then worked his way through the middle order superbly as the hosts just never managed to get going.

Only two batsmen, Stephen Bernard (25no) and Steve Leach (21) passed 20 before the innings came to an end in the 44th over at 115.

BROMSGROVE will attempt to end their Division One home campaign on a high when entertaining bottom of the table Whitchurch tomorrow.

Bromsgrove, who sit eighth in the table, were beaten by 35 runs at home against Dorridge on Saturday despite a superb performance with the ball from Tom Underhill.

He returned 4-19 from 9.4 overs as Dorridge were dismissed for 182 after being put in, thanks mainly to David Ball (49) and Matt McGillivary (47). James Ganderton (2-38) and Munowar Samsodien (1-38) also struck for Bromsgrove.

They did not enjoy such good fortune with the bat though as Ash Newdick (22) was the only member of the top five to pass double figures and it took Ganderton to hit a late 42 to help push the final total to a more respectable 147ao.

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