ALEX Hepburn took three wickets and made an unbeaten 93 to help Barnards Green to a one-wicket victory over Moseley in their opening Birmingham League Division One match.

In a contest reduced to 48 over per side due to rain, Green captain George Rhodes won the toss and chose to field.

Jon Dovey made the first breakthrough as opener Asmin Shoaib chipped one up to Rhodes at silly mid-on.

Andrew Umeed was joined by John Williams who was quickly dismissed lbw by Phil Harris to leave Moseley 39-2.

Mavarick Perry and Umeed took the score past 50 in the 12th over before Hepburn replaced Dovey and had Perry (6) caught by Rhodes in the covers.

Aadam Din joined Umeed but the former was caught by Jamie Tapper at deep mid-off off Rhodes for 11.

This brought Chief Narotra to the crease and soon after Umeed passed 50 and Moseley 100 before Narotra was smartly run out for 15.

Recordo Gordon (2) came and went, skying one to Harris at mid-on to give Rhodes his second wicket.

Hepburn (3-33) returned to the attack and took the wicket of Abdullah Awan, caught by Jamie Tapper at mid-on for one.

At 145-7, Umeed was brilliantly run out by a direct hit from Tapper for a 79 that included nine fours and two sixes, and 152-8 soon became 155 all out.

Barnards Green struggled in reply as they were reduced to 21-4. Harris skied one to Perry at mid-off, Rhodes was trapped lbw before Andy Ford and Nathan Newport were clean bowled without scoring.

The total soon became 32-5 as Tapper (11) was bowled by Moseley captain Usman Awan.

At this point Hepburn took control of the innings. He was well supported by Josh Tongue and the pair had put on 40 when Tongue was caught by Gordon at mid-off off Williams for eight.

Ash Brewer took the score passed 100 but holed out to Perry for 16. Elliot Hennessy joined Hepburn and they kept the scoreboard ticking over.

Mark Adair (5-42) returned to the attack and clean bowled Hennessy (8) to leave the Green 125-8 and, as Dovey came to the crease, they needed 31 from 18 overs.

Hepburn took 10 off a Williams’ over to edge his side closer to their target. The ninth wicket fell with the score on 141 as Dovey (2) was given out caught behind by Awan off Gordon (2-27).

Hepburn hit Usman Awan for 1 to take the Green to 152 and, along with Jack Mackintosh, saw the hosts finish on 158-9.

Hepburn’s match-winning innings of 93 not out included 12 fours and three sixes.

n The seconds won by seven wickets at Dorridge in Division Two South.

They bowled the home side out for 209, thanks mainly to Chris Hill who took 5-55 ably assisted by Tanbir Ahmed (2-11) and Zack Marsh (2-31).

In reply, Stewart Hepburn scored 95, supported by Judd Doughty (36), Cameron Spence (32) and Roger Thompson (32 not out).

n The thirds defeated Bromsgrove by four wickets in Worcestershire League Division Four with Kev Golder taking 3-32 and scoring 62, while captain Jez Clarke made 79.

n The fourths lost to Cleobury Mortimer by 59 runs in Worcestershire League Division Four Second XI.

Ben Alamutu took 5-64 for the visitors and Shulka Anshuman (41) and Edward Chadwick (25) top-scored as the Green were bowled out for 165.