BARNT Green Second XI clinched promotion back to the Birmingham and District League Premier Division for second teams with a five-wicket win at Walmley on Saturday.

Having won the toss and asked the home side to bat, Green's opening attack of Mike Hind (3-52) and Darren Key (1-47) contained the Walmley batsmen. It wasn't until the 24th over that 50 was on the board for the loss of two wickets.

The introduction of Leo Moncrieffe (1-25) and Mark Bagley saw a similar struggle, with 40 overs bowled before the 100 was brought up for four wickets.

The loss of another shortly afterwards seemed to ensure that there would be a low total for Green to chase.

However Ferris (44 not out) and Stratford 46 (46 not out) had other ideas, with the latter in particular taking the attack to the bowlers with a couple of sixes. The last ten overs produced just over 70 runs, leaving Green chasing 175 for victory.

For the second week running Green's innings got off well, with Matt Eckersley (20) and Mark Bagley (65) putting on 40 before Eckersley was caught at slip.

Bagley, particularly severe on anything short, and James Clarke with some superb straight drives, continued the attack in a second wicket stand of 70 before the latter holed out to mid-wicket for 44.

With only 65 required and 22 overs remaining, victory seemed a formality. But Bagley was then bowled with the score on 13 and he was followed by Chris Edwards shortly afterwards to leave Green needing 30 to win in 12 overs. New batsmen Moncrieffe (15) and Bobby Meredith (17 not out) edged the score closer to the required target, before Moncr-ieffe was stumped with 13 required.

It was left to Meredith and Mike Wakeman to take Green to a 20-point victory, which was achieved with three overs remaining.

Skipper Darren Cullen beamed: "Well done and thank you to all the players for making it an enjoyable season. Few clubs can boast such excellent spirit and commitment.

"Everybody contrib-uted at some stage and with the batting firing correctly things look good for a top five spot in the Premier Division next year."