BARNT Green were undone by a superb display from Mark Best as his 152 guided Berkswell to a five wicket win at Cherry Hill Road in the Birmingham League Premier Division.
At one stage Luke Radford looked like being the hero for Green as he made 95 before claiming their first wicket and making two smart catches.
But his efforts were all in vain as Best proved too good as he hit 25 fours on his way to his match-winning score for Berkswell.
Like Radford, Best also got the breakthrough with the ball as he bowled Sam Cheshire for 12.
Despite the early set back, Green regained composure thanks to some resilient battling from Radford and the inform Ed Pollock.
The pair looked on course to move their side into three figures, but once again Best wrecked their plans as he removed Pollock.
Time and time again a similar pattern emerged where Green’s batsmen looked to be in good knick as they reached 30, but then lost their way.
After Pollock went for 38, Matthew Lamb fell for 33 and Andrew Sutton was dismissed for 30 to leave Green on 205-4.
This was then followed by a triple blow as Green went from 235-4 to 235-7 – losing three wickets in quick succession, including Radford.
The batsman was just five runs away from securing his century when his shot found the hands of Oliver Haley from the bowling of Daniel Worrall.
This combination also dismissed Tom Brown and Darrel Williams, while Alastair Pollock and Adam Smith did not last long at the crease, with the latter falling for a duck.
With a score of 274 to defend, Green needed to get off to a good start and they got this through Radford who caught and bowled Amir Shabir (8).
However, the home side failed to build on this while Best and Chris Whittock formed an impressive second-wicket partnership.
The duo took the match by the scruff of the neck as they pushed Berkswell past the 100 mark and then 150 to frustrate the Green’s bowlers.
Best and Whittock made 105 between them before Darrel Williams dismissed the latter with Radford taking the catch.
Williams then removed Dominic Ostler (16) before Best’s scintillating innings came to an end soon after the opener reached 150.
Cheshire took the catch on that occasion before Radford gathered Haley’s misplaced shot from the bowling of Williams, but Berkswell knocked off the remaining 26 runs thanks to Steven Sandhu (32) and Nick James (12).
