BARNARDS Green thrashed Old Hill by 130 runs to finish fifth in Birmingham and District League Division One.

The North End Lance club went into the game knowing a top-four or bottom-four finish was on the cards depending on other results.

Old Hill won the toss and chose to field with Green captain Andy Ford opening the batting with George Rhodes.

With the score on seven, Ford hit a powerful straight drive off Howell, with the bowler diving to deflected the ball onto the stumps to run out Rhodes (5) backing up.

This brought Alex Hepburn to the crease and he, together with Ford, built a solid partnership to take the score past 50 in the 14th over.

Ford had reached 40, his highest score of the season in league cricket, when he chipped one up to be caught and bowled by Patel.

Alex Milton joined Hepburn but soon departed when he was clean bowled by Davenport for four.

Kev Golder came in and got off the mark with a huge six off a free hit but he too misjudged one from Patel and was caught and bowled for 13.

The Green were 105-4 with 18 overs left when Ash Brewer came in and he batted in his usual attacking style.

His second six brought up the 150 in the 39th over, but he too was caught and bowled, this time by Islam for 25.

Next in was Georgia Hennessy, finally getting a chance to bat in the first XI, but her innings was short lived. In a repeat of Rhodes’ dismissal, she was run out backing up after a deflection from bowler Howell.

Hepburn had been accumulating runs and he held the innings together.

Jon Dovey arrived with the score on 159-6 with 10 overs left to bat. He started with a boundary off his first ball, hit an impressive lofted drive for six and then a fine four through the covers to take Green beyond 200 in the 48th over.

Dovey was eventually trapped lbw by D Cox for 28 off only 17 balls.

Rishe Umasuthan and Tim Williams came and went as Howell picked up two late wickets and the last man out was Hepburn, run out in the final over for 78 as Green finished on 217 all out.

Old Hill started dreadfully and were 15-5 after five overs with Hepburn claiming four of the wickets.

Umasuthan also chipped in with the vital wicket of Patel (5).

Howell and B Cox set about rebuilding the innings with the youngster Cox playing particularly well. Old Hill past 50 in the 15th over but soon after Umasuthan grabbed his second wicket as Howell was trapped in front for 16.

After a brief spell from Jon Dovey, the hosts turned to spin with Ford and Rhodes. They combined to dismiss Cox (33) as Rhodes dived high to his left to catch him off Ford.

Old Hill went from 75-7 to all out for 87 in the space of five overs with Rhodes mopping up the tail.

Green’s 20 points saw them hit a top-five finish for the second season in a row.

The game was followed by the club’s presentation evening with former professional Steve Kirby.

As well as the first XI’s achievement, guests were able to celebrate promotion for both the third and fourth XIs.