Leamington 188-6

Barnt Green 191-8

Barnt Green won by two wickets

GARETH Williams sealed a final over victory over basement side Leamington as Barnt Green extended their lead at the top of the Birmingham and District League Premier Division.

The bowler smashed the penultimate ball out of Cherry Hill Road to hand the leaders all the hard earned maximum points.

Victory extended the Green's lead at the top of the table to 28 points after Knowle and Dorridge slipped to a 21 run defeat to Halesowen on Saturday.

Captain Richard Illingworth (4-57) was the home side's most effective bowler, as Leamington fought hard as Cherry Hill Lane.

Williams (1-17) made the early breakthrough when he removed David Hawkes (2) for lbw.

Illingworth then dismissed opener Richard Swann (43) and Young (11) as Barnt Green took control.

However, Chris Cheslin (15), Francois Klopper (57) and Ross Anthrobus (39 not out) steadied Leamington as they made 188 in 55 overs.

Barnt Green's openers also struggled for runs, with Richard Hall (4) and Matt Dallaway (9) victims of young.

Simon Froggatt got his side back on track, but was forced to retire hurt after fluent 46 runs, while Klopper bowled Paul Bedford.

Richard Wilkinson (38) added some much-needed impetus, while Illingworth's 38 not out brought stability.

David Wigley (7), Kris Howes (0) and Adam Smith (5) could not get the finals runs as the game reached a tense conclusion.

But cometh the hour and cometh the man - Williams smashed Leamington for six to seal victory.

Team manager Paul Clark said: "We thought 188 was always in our range, but Leamington made it very difficult.

"They had fought very hard with the bat and made it hard for us.

"It was left to Gareth to do something. He's got a knack of getting runs when we needed them and he didn't let us down.

"The way things have worked out with other results is absolutely perfect for us, it leaves us in control of our destiny."