BARNARDS Green’s Birmingham and District Premier League Division One promotion hopes took another blow as they could not claim victory at basement boys Wellington.

The Malvern side scored 224-6 from 55 overs but the Shropshire hosts held on with a rain-affected 161-9.

Green’s 15-point haul from the winning draw saw them drop to sixth ahead of Saturday’s game with new leaders Walsall at North End Lane (noon).

On being asked to bat first, away skipper George Rhodes (5) was dropped once before being bowled and Alex Hepburn followed three balls later for a duck.

From 18-2 in the eighth over, Andrew Curtis and Jamie Tapper laid a solid foundation as the former hit a straight six to bring up the 50-run partnership.

Tapper (37) holed out to mid-wicket before Curtis and Phil Harris helped Green past 100 in the 33rd over.

Just short of the 50 partnership, Harris (25) was caught behind and then Josh Tongue hit a swift 26 to help the visitors to 187 before being held at mid-wicket.

Andy Ford brought up the 200 with two fours but Curtis’ fine innings of 71 ended when caught at cow corner.

Debutant Ryan Tongue (11) and Ford (19) took Green to a decent total but two rain breaks disrupted the innings, causing 12 match overs to be lost.

Young opening bowlers Josh Tongue and Liam Smith impressed with the former striking thanks to wicketkeeper Ash Brewer’s catch.

Another shower caused five more overs to be lost so Wellington’s winning draw total was adjusted to 178 off 38 overs.

Jon Dovey struck in his second over with Phil Harris catching at mid-on and the next batsman was bowled by Josh Tongue.

Hepburn and Dovey claimed further victims as Wellington staggered to 100-5 in the 24th over.

Dovey (3-35) grabbed a third wicket but Jamie Miller battled on with 71 before the returning Josh Tongue took a fine caught and bowled.

Wellington’s 132-7 became 140-9 as Rhodes and Josh Tongue (4-49) swooped but Charlie Mackleworth and Dan Lloyd survived more than five overs to save the game despite an attacking field and changes of bowling.

Meanwhile, Green moved up to third in Second XI Division Two South with an 83-run win over high-flying Old Elizabethans.

Batting first, the hosts accumulated 222 all out thanks to Will Dovey (43), Tanbir Ahmed (38), Elliot Hennessy (32) and Monzur Ahmed (29).

In reply, OEs fell short with 138 all out inside 35 overs with Hennessy taking 4-36 and James Marsh 3-22.

A top-of-the-table Worcestershire League Division Four clash saw Green’s third XI lose to Kempsey by six wickets.

Green collapsed to 112 all out with Chris Smedley (57) and Dan Metcalfe (17).

Kempsey knocked off the runs in the 28th over despite Kev Golder’s 3-25.

Green slipped out of the top two for the first time this season.

The fourth XI moved up to fourth in Division Four with a five-wicket win against second-placed Kempsey.

Kempsey were bowled out for just 109 with three wickets for Nick Pett and Josh Dickenson and two each for Ben Sutton and Steve Alamutu.

Green knocked off the runs in under 30 overs with Jack Dickenson (30) top-scoring.

The Sunday second XI sit second in the Worcestershire Club League after a three-wicket win at West Bromwich Dartmouth.

Batting first, West Brom were bowled out for 174 with Monzur taking 4-17.

Green passed their target with Robert Wilson hitting 59 and Adam Dickenson 40.