BARNT Green saw their hopes of keeping the pressure on the top-five in the Birmingham and District League Premier Division damaged after losing by seven wickets at Wolverhampton.

Defeat saw the Cherry Hill Road side slip to eighth in the table and be leapfrogged by Saturday’s hosts.

Last season’s champions are still in the hunt for a top-five finish but with six games to go they are 20 points behind fifth-placed Brockhampton.

Green paid the price for not putting runs on the board after opting to bat first.

The loss of Nathan Newport (0), James Ord (3), Richard Wilkinson (4) and Matthew Lamb (6) saw them slip to 25-4.

Johannes Bothma (5-44) and Moeen Ali (3-34) took the wickets for Wolverhampton as the away side slipped to 167-9.

However, Adam Smith (12 not out) and Stephen Bevan (12no) provided some resistance from the tail.

Wolverhampton got off to a strong reply, reaching 53-0 before captain Dougie Brown had Aaron Jeavons caught by Wilkinson for 32.

And when England Lion international Moeen (0) and Karl Quiney (20) went, Green had reduced the hosts to 54-3 and ignited their hopes of a win.

But a 116-run fourth-wicket stand between Vishai Tripathi (69no), who was dropped second ball, and Thomas Fell (47no) steered Wolverhampton home.

Green take on West Bromwich Dartmouth at home on Saturday (noon start) aiming to get back on track.

Brown said: “That was our worst display with the ball all season.

“We didn’t fight hard enough to get the result on a wicket which was deteriorating and that was disappointing.

“We’ve got West Bromwich next and we’ll be looking for the same players to take responsibility and bounce back from this defeat.”

n Meanwhile in Division One, Bromsgrove’s hopes of promotion suffered a setback after losing by six wickets to Walmley.

After being bowled out for 82, their opponents eased home.

Defeat means the Boars are seventh on 150 points — 46 behind second-placed Wombourne.

They will be hoping for a better result when they take on relegation battling Coventry and North Warwickshire on Saturday (noon start).