BROMSGROVE players had good cause to celebrate this week after winning a remarkable contest with Wellington in Birmingham League Division One.

The match reached a climax when Wellington required three runs to win with four wickets remaining - but incredibly failed to score a single run.

Bromsgrove skipper Mark Evenson admitted his players celebrated as though they'd won the FA Cup and said: "It was a game that had everything including plenty of controversy."

Upon arrival at Wellington, Bromsgrove were greeted with the prospect of a wet wicket.

Evenson told the Advertiser: "It just didn't add up. We were told by Wellington that they'd had a thunderstorm on Thursday - yet the adjacent wicket was a dry as a bone.

"We lost the toss and were immediately put into bat. By that stage the Wellington players were already celebrating and giving themselves 'high-fives' as if it was job done."

Bromsgrove duly struggled with the bat and found themselves 74 for nine at one stage.

But the innings was held together at the end by 19-year-old Herefordshire player Jack Taylor who struck a vital 45 runs. Last man Gareth Williams kept him company as Bromsgrove held out until the 49th over before finally being removed for 107.

Matt Simmonds with five for 25 and Simon Khoman who claimed three for 29 caused most of the damage but Evenson revealed: "Wellington, for some reason went back to their seam attack towards the end of the innings and that suited us more."

However Wellington appeared to be coasting to victory in reply spearheaded by Khoman's 35.

At 105 for six, the game appeared over but instead it was Bromsgrove who held their nerve as Wellington cracked and failed to add any further score.

Ash Newfield picked up five for 30 to mop up the innings after Alex Wilkinson had earlier taken three for 21, while Evenson himself claimed two for 13.

Evenson added: "The players were completely cock-a-hoop at the end of the game and everyone was running all over the place.

"I felt we had some very poor decisions go against us during the game, especially at one stage when the umpires had to leave the field for 20 minutes to consult over fielding regulations, because they didn't know the rules.

"In another incident, the bail was dislodged while Tom Green was batting. Neither of the umpires saw Tom hit the wicket, but he was still given out hit wicket.

"To leave Wellington with 24 points was the best response we could have given.

"It also shows what a couple of wins can do, as we've risen up the table to fourth place having only recently been second from bottom."

Bromsgrove attempt to continue their upward curve this Saturday when they entertain Oswestry, they will be missing several key players but Evenson intends to promote from his in-form second XI

In the meantime, Bromsgrove continue to miss out with Warwickshire's Aaron Thomason who is now sidelined with a side-strain which he sustained playing against Nottinghamshire.

Evenson added: "I spoke with Aaron who claimed he could hardly walk and could be out for several weeks.

"We've only seen him once so far this season, which isn't a great return and we just have to keep our fingers crossed he recovers quickly."