BARNARDS Green took over at the top of Birmingham and District Premier Cricket League Division Two with a win over Cannock.

They triumphed on their travels by just one wicket with 2.3 overs to spare and the 24 points collected put Green five ahead of second spot.

Cannock won the toss and chose to bat first on what looked like a good batting track but were reduced to 48-2 off 13 overs by a clean-bowled double from Jon Dovey.

Sean Collings and opener Will Fleet put on 80 to rescue Cannock, despite good bowling from Dovey, Phil Harris and debutant James Marsh.

The partnership was broken when Collings (38) was run out by a fine piece of fielding from Harris off his own bowling.

Another run-out quickly followed and Harris took out the middle stump to send the hosts slumping from 139-3 to 156-6.

Captain Tim Williams claimed a sharp caught-and-bowled and picked up a second wicket alongside Dovey’s third.

Fleet hit a six and a quick single to ensure he reached 100 not out from 176 balls before Cannock finished on 208-8 from 55 overs.

Green openers Adam Dovey and Mark Hooper started slowly with the former dropped twice before being yorked.

Harris was dismissed swiftly before Josh Rurawhe and Dannie Rees became Ed Fleet’s third and fourth victims to leave the visitors struggling on 27-4 off 12 overs.

Jon Dovey and Hooper steadied the ship before the former was trapped lbw.

Hooper then reached 50 runs off 87 balls, allowing Elliott Hennessy to play the shots as they put on 91 in 11 overs. Hennessy was bowled for 53 off only 60 balls but Tom Clack (21) continued where he left off.

Green were left on 178-7, needing 31 runs to win from 12 overs, but Williams and Hooper looked comfortable, moving the score on to 203.

Hooper was caught at long-off for 80 and Williams quickly followed for five.

However, youngsters Ashlea Brewer and Marsh guided Green home with the latter punching one through the covers for four.

Meanwhile, the seconds thrashed Studley by 186 runs in Division Two South with Shane Thompson (4-39), Matthew Brookes (3-32) and Lewis Hooper (3-4 from 3.2 overs) skittling the visitors for 111.

Green totalled 297-8 from 50 overs with Jonathan Lewis scoring 64 and Lewis Hooper 54.