Bevan’s fantastic four boosts Barnt Green (From Droitwich Advertiser)

Bevan’s fantastic four boosts Barnt Green

9:19am Wednesday 13th June 2012 in Sport

BARNT Green continued their resergence and thrust themselves into the title chase in the Birmingham and District League Premier Division with a three-wicket win over Knowle and Dorridge in Warwickshire.

The Cherry Hill Road side moved into third in the table after earning 20 points at Knowle, leaving them 19 points behind leaders Walsall.

It marks a fine recovery by Barnt Green, who have shaken off a slow start in May to remain unbeaten so far in June.

Victory was built on the hard work of the bowlers, who once again terrorised the opposition batsmen and kept them to a total which Green’s batsmen could get their teeth into.

Stephen Bevan was Green’s top wicket-taker with 4-36 but Andrew Sutton (2-42) and Richard Wilkinson (2-33) also played their part in the team’s effective attack.

Sutton made the first breakthrough when he bowled opener David Smith for one, before returning captain Dougie Brown caught Richard Johnson (15) off Sutton’s delivery.

Brown’s safe hands were in action again when he caught Atti Chrishti off Nicholas Powell for five.

Knowle fought back briefly through Luke Parker (25) and Sam Reddish (58) but both were caught by Adam Smith off the respective bowling of Brown and Bevan.

With their best batsmen dismissed, Green’s opponents were 164 all out in the 49th over.

Barnt Green made hard work of their reply but reached the neccessary target in the 46th over.

They had lost openers James Ord (11) and Nathan Newport (12) cheaply but Jack Williams (27) and Craig Crowe (42), provided the impetus needed.

Brown (10), Edward Pollock (14), Powell (12no) and Sutton (4no) also helped to guide Barnt Green to 167-7.

Green will be aiming to keep the pressure on the sides above them on Saturday when they take on second-from-bottom Leamington at home (noon start).

Brown’s side will also be eyeing a chance to progress into the national stages of the ECB Kingfisher Beer Knock-out Cup on Sunday.

They entertain Banbury in the group four final on Sunday (1pm start). Their opponents are second in the Home Counties Premier Cricket League Division One.