BARNARDS Green thrashed promotion-chasing Wellington to ensure safety in Birmingham and District Premier Cricket League Division One.

A top-five finish is possible with victories for Green in their last two games, starting at Wombourne on Saturday (noon).

The Malvern side’s penultimate home league game of the season saw captain Andy Ford win the toss and choose to bowl first.

Wellington set off rapidly as ex-Somerset batsman Neil Edwards scored 20 off the first three overs. Mark Hardinges broke through though, bowling Sam Lloyd (1).

Edwards continued the big hitting and Scott De Weymarn took them past 50 in the seventh over with a four.

Hardinges had De Weymar (4) spectacularly caught behind by Ash Brewer and then took the crucial wicket of Edwards with the score on 68.

He tried one big hit too many and skied to be well caught by Andrew Curtis at cover for 57 off just 33 balls. Green clawed back the run-rate and captain Wendell Wagner could only watch as batsmen fell at the other end.

Andy Ford bowled Daniel Vaughan (7) before a fine spell of swing bowling from Rishe Umasuthan (3-19).

All-rounder Trevor Garwe (1) was caught by a juggling Ford at slip and Chris Sheperd trapped lbw for the same score. Wagner (24) was Umasuthan’s third victim, again lbw, as Wellington slumped from 97-4 to 103-7.

Anthony O’Connor (1) was bowled by Ford (2-41) and Hardinges returned to claim Matt Stinson (3) as he finished with 4-11 from 10 overs.

Tim Dean (26) played sensibly but George Rhodes (1-7) removed him lbw with Wellington bowled out for just 140 in the 41st over.

In reply, Garwe opened with a mixed over of two no-balls and a wicket as Curtis was bowled for a duck.

O’Connor also bowled two no-balls but Rhodes took full advantage to take Green to 22-1 off two overs.

Wagner removed Alex Hepburn for a duck but Alex Milton opened his account with a huge six off a free hit.

For a while, Wellington’s seamers were on top but both batsmen played shrewdly, knowing Wagner and Garwe were limited to 10 overs.

With three overs before tea, Rhodes took the score past 50 with a fine drive for four.

Rhodes (62 not out) and Milton, particularly, batted confidently as Green moved to within 50 runs of victory.

Dean broke the partnership as Milton (36) was given out lbw with more than a hint of bat involved.

With Green on 97-3 at the halfway point, Hardinges then hit a rapid 32 not out, including three fours and two sixes, to take Green to victory just five overs later.

For pictures, see this week's Malvern Gazette.

Second-from-bottom Green seconds lost at Stratford by one wicket in Division Two South.

Will Dovey (35) top-scored as the visitors were restricted to 165-9 before Stratford won in 48 overs despite 5-25 from Jack Mackintosh.

Green thirds finished second in Worcestershire League Division Five with a final-day nine-wicket win at Stourport, who could only score 63-9.

Matthew Brookes took 3-4 from eight overs and Jez Clarke 3-17.

The fourths topped Division Five and beat Stourport by 38 runs after removing them for 121.

Robert Pittaway claimed 3-16 and Lloyd Roberts 3-29.