Bowdon 133 all out Barnt Green 134-9

Barnt Green win by

one wicket

Cockspur National

Knockout Cup

WICKETKEEPER Adam Smith grabbed the winning runs in a thrilling match to ensure Barnt Green booked their place in the cup's quarterfinals on Sunday.

Smith ended a tense affair in Cheshire by scoring the crucial runs, after Barnt Green's top order suffered another of the batting collapses that has blighted their season.

Before that The Green's bowlers took full advantage of a low and slow pitch to cut a swathe through Bowdon's batting order.

Kieran Rees was the best of his side's bowlers, with his spinning yielding three wickets for 23 runs.

Gareth Williams (2-25), Richard Illingworth (1-19) and Kris Howes (1-29) all chipped in with wickets as Bowdon fell to a reachable 133 all out.

However, Barnt Green also struggled to find the runs on a bowler friendly wicket.

The absence of batsmen Richard Hall, who was playing for Herefordshire in the Minor Counties Knockout Cup, and Paul Bedford was also telling.

The Green collapsed to 18-4 and seemed in serious danger of defeat, before Illingworth steadied the ship with a quickfire 53.

The wickets still tumbled around the captain and once he was dismissed Barnt Green collapsed to 99-8.

Phillip Mann, making his first team debut, hit nine runs to keep his side in the running.

Going into the final over Green needed four for victory.

But Bowdon's bowler cracked under the pressure as he gifted the Worcestershire side two runs with two wide deliveries.

Smith then hit a fine drive, which allowed him to grab the winning runs.

Victory means Barnt Green meet Cheshire side Widnes at home in the quarterfinals on July 24 (1pm start).

First team manager Paul Clarke had been hoping Green would face Knowle and Dorridge in the final eight, but Widnes beat them.

He said: "We're the only Birmingham League side left in the cup now.

"But it was an incredibly tight game.

"The wicket seemed to help our bowlers, but it also helped Bowdon's as well. But we're all delighted to make it to the next stage of the competition."