Bridgnorth (121-6) beat Barnards Green (120) by 4 wickets

Bridgnorth scored their fourth win in five weeks as skipper Sam Whitney took his 300th Birmingham League 1st XI wicket during his first five-wicket haul of 2016.

James Ralph and Mark MacPherson-Lees later top-scored with 39 and an unbeaten 32 respectively, as despite a few wobbles in the run chase, the Cricket Meadow men completed the win in the 31st over of their reply.

With Whitney losing the toss and the visitors deciding to bat first, the runs flowed early on before in-form swing bowler Tom Weaver made the initial breakthrough at 26-1, with Dave Exall provided a second shortly afterwards.

Bridgnorth then continued to produced a well-disciplined performance with the ball, giving a young batting line-up no chances to free their arms and increase the tempo, a tactic for which they are known. On a pitch that offered spin, Whitney brought himself on early and quickly got in on the action, and a double wicket maiden to reduce Barnards Green to 64-5 proved to be another crucial moment.

First team debutant wicket-keeper Joe Barclay also produced an exemplary display behind the stumps, taking three superb catches. Dan Vernon also extracted good turn, and took the key wicket of captain Harris for 33 as Ralph took his third slip catch of the game.

Wickets tumbled at a regular basis, with Whitney finishing with 5-36 and Vernon 2-32. Ralph also struck second ball as Whitney's bowling changes also proved faultless, and the visitors were eventually spun out for 120 in the 47th over.

The following run chase could have proved tricky, but Ralph and Exall put on another quickfire 50-partnership to put Bridgnorth firmly in charge.

Whitney was delighted with the result, and was quick to highlight the performances of players who had come in due to missing regulars. "The lads who've come in deserve a special mention. Joe's keeping was superb, and [Andrew] Mooney worked hard for a vital partnership with Mark in the middle order. Patrick [Smallman] also brings good energy in the field, and whilst I wouldn't say it was a weak side, there was definitely a lack of experience today, but the lads come in and show no fear."

"We've now opened a gap between us and the bottom two in Division One [now 63 points] but there are more tough games to come, so we need our senior players to keep standing up and performing, and hopefully we can keep this buzz going around the team."