BARNARDS Green first XI enjoyed two wins in contrasting style ahead of the new Birmingham League season.

They had a comfortable friendly victory over Stourbridge before taking until the penultimate ball to beat Knowle and Dorridge in the ECB National T20.

In the first game, Green wore black armbands in memory of Bromsgrove’s late groundsman Bob Green.

Stourbridge won the toss and chose to bat but Jon Dovey broke their steady progress, trapping Game (7) lbw and bowling R Bradley (1).

Alex Hepburn dismissed captain M Bradley (16) lbw and Jack Mackintosh took the key wicket of opener Bingham (24), who edged to wicketkeeper Ash Brewer.

Stourbridge slumped to 77-5 as Patel skied to Harris at short mid-on off Shane Thompson.

Wood and Winders built a partnership of 60 before Hepburn bowled the former for 39.

Hussain was stumped by Brewer off Harris before Jones supported Winders’ top score of 39 not out, taking Stourbridge to 171-7 off 50 overs.

Green started strongly with George Rhodes and Harris taking boundaries off the first few overs.

They had reached 67 when Harris was caught at mid-off for 43 off 37 balls.

Hepburn and Rhodes continued the rapid scoring as the 100 came up off 122 balls after the former hit two huge sixes.

Rhodes passed 50 and the pair had put on 57 when Hepburn (26) skied to cover.

Debutant Josh Tongue (27) hit a cover drive for four and added another four and two sixes before he was caught at long-on.

Green passed the required total with overs to spare but both teams agreed to play on.

Rhodes was bowled for 71, which brought Andy Ford and Jamie Tapper together.

Both batted aggressively with Ford hitting a huge six to bring up the 200, reaching his 50 off just 31 balls.

Ford was caught behind for 84 off 45 balls, including 10 fours and eight sixes.

The innings ended in the 48th over with Green on 341-5 and Tapper on 66no off 41 balls, including 11 fours and two sixes, while Elliot Hennessy scored 18 not out.

In the second game, Knowle and Dorridge decided to bat first and reached 28 without loss after four overs.

Spinners Ford (3-19) and Rhodes saw their first overs go for 9 and 20 respectively.

But captain Rhodes moved Ford to the other end and he broke the partnership, bowling Price (42).

Jack Mackintosh kept it tight, while Ford trapped Price (28) lbw and had captain Reddish (10) caught by Harris at mid-off.

Kenny (6) was run-out but Roberts (19no) and Smith (38no) hit late boundaries to take the score to 148-4.

In reply, Rhodes (5) was spectacularly caught in the second over on the long-off boundary.

Nathan Newport (1) edged behind before Harris and Ford rotated the strike to keep up with the seven runs-an-over required.

They put on 40 when Ford (24) holed out and Green needed 92 off 12 overs.

Knowle and Dorridge turned to spin but Harris hit 22 off the over, including three huge sixes.

Two quick wickets fell on 118 with Tongue (26) bowled and Harris caught for 50, including two fours and four sixes.

Hennessy hit a six but Dovey (0) was caught, leaving Green needing 21 to win off three overs. With just four singles taken off the 18th over, they required 17 off the last two.

In the 19th, Hennessy hit another six but Will Dovey (3) was bowled going for a big shot.

Hennessy and Mackintosh needed seven runs of the last over and achieved the target on 151-7.

The penultimate ball was hit through fine third man for four by Hennessy, whose 28no included two sixes and two fours.

Meanwhile, a mixed Green seconds, thirds and fourths team enjoyed a straightforward victory over local rivals Malvern.