EDWARD Pollock made a scintilating century for Barnt Green, but it was only enough to secure a winning draw against a battling Wolverhampton side.
The batsman scored 119 off 124 balls as Green set the visitors a target of 291. Despite the best efforts of Matthew Kleinveldt, who made 96, the hosts looked to be on course for victory.
But after reducing Wolverhampton on 255-7, they could not get the remaining three wickets to seal maximum points in the Birmingham League Premier encounter.
With the away side struggling in the bottom half of the table, Green would have seen this as a great opportunity to get a win on the board.
And after winning the toss and choosing to bat, they looked like they were determined to take that chance as their openers took the game to their opponents.
Sam Cheshire and Will Baker pushed Green past 50 before the latter fell for 21. Cheshire continued to bat well as the visitors got into three figures and he made his half century.
But after making 51 off 42 balls, he was trapped LBW by Andy Bowyer, who also caught and bowled Tom Banton for 28.
Pollock had taken over the mantle left by Cheshire, though, as he got to his 50 and started to attack Wolverhampton’s bowlers.
Matthew Lamb also looked in good form before falling for 38, while Andrew Sutton managed to keep Pollock on strike, so he could get his century.
But the overs ran out for Green as Henry Moberley could only make four after Sutton was caught and bowled by Jack Stanley.
Needing 292 to win, Wolverhampton looked to force the issue early on, but this back-fired as Sutton got the wicket of Worcestershire ace Tom Fell.
Alex Grant (19) was also removed to leave Wolverhampton on 34-2, but Kleinveldt was determined to stick around and chipped away at Green’s total.
He was helped by Bowyer who also went for boundaries after Banton dismissed Ross Aucott (33) Adam Lawley (18). The pair took Wolverhampton past 200, with Kleinveldt looking destined to make a century.
But just four runs of making his ton, he was trapped LBW by Darrel Williams. And after notching up his half century, Bowyer (62) also fell to reignite Green’s hopes of securing victory.
But the home side could only collect one further wicket when Williams removed James Hammond as Jack Stanley and Chris Russell saw out the remaining balls.
