BARNARDS Green took over at the top of Birmingham and District Premier Cricket League Division One after winning by 24 runs at previous joint leaders Walsall.

The hosts, relegated from the Premier Division last season, won the toss and put Green into bat with overcast skies and a green wicket.

Despite the conditions, George Rhodes and Andrew Curtis got off the mark with a four and six respectively.

But, with the score on 12 in the fourth over, Rhodes (4) was bowled by James Pearce.

Green passed 50 in the 18th before Paul Wicker trapped Alex Hepburn (17) lbw one short of the 50 partnership.

Green then slumped to 79-5 as Ed Denham (3-22) rattled through the middle order. Nathan Newport (2) chipped to extra cover, Phil Harris (0) was bowled and Jamie Tapper (0) caught in the slips.

Andy Ford helped Green beat 100 in the 36th over and made 24, including four fours and a six, when Tim Maxfield had him caught at point.

Josh Tongue (2) went the same way before opener Curtis was trapped lbw by Maxfield for a patient 53.

First XI debutant Stewart Hepburn (6) holed out to mid-on to leave Green on 129-9 with six overs left.

Jon Dovey hit two fours and a six after a catch was dropped over the boundary.

With the score on 150 and four balls left, Maxfield (5-48) had Dovey caught at extra cover for a valuable 18.

Green were optimistic as the conditions still favoured the bowlers.

Walsall’s openers kept the scoreboard ticking over and passed 50 in the 13th over.

Alex Hepburn (2-25) made the breakthrough as James Middleton (28) was caught at deep mid-off by Curtis.

Maxfield’s attacking approach backfired when he was caught at long-off by Tapper off Dovey for eight.

David Powles (6) fell just two overs later lbw to Dovey.

Denham and Alex McChristie took Walsall to 80-3 before three wickets in as many overs changed the game.

Dovey had McChristie (20) caught by Rhodes at cover point, Alex Hepburn bowled Denham (7) and Steve Plant (0) was run-out by Tapper.

Walsall, on 82-6, saw Mike Hingley (10) well held by Ford at slip off Tongue.

Dovey took 3-23 and Harris finished the game with three wickets in as many overs.

Josh Bowker (18) was caught by Rhodes at wide mid-on and Wicker (0) edged behind to Stewart Hepburn.

In the 36th over with Walsall on 126, Harris bowled Paul Byrne to finish with figures of 3-18.