BARNARDS Green sit just one point off the top of Birmingham and District Premier Cricket League Division Two.

The third-placed Malvern side have adapted well to the highest level in their history and picked up a second 24-point win of the season by 18 runs at Stratford-upon-Avon.

Deadly Jon Dovey’s spell of 6-28 from 12 overs proved crucial as the hosts floundered to 95 from 37.4 overs in reply to Green’s 113 all out.

After a slight delay due to a damp outfield, Stratford skipper Jon Gill won the toss and put the visitors into bat.

Adam Dovey and Mark Hooper opened but the former was bowled second ball for 0.

Phil Harris and Hooper found scoring off brothers Tom and Jack Grundy difficult.

The score progressed to 18 before Harris was caught at cover and, on 38, Kiwi Josh Rurawhe was given out lbw off Mike Brown (4-21).

Hooper and Dannie Rees pushed up the run-rate with boundaries and good running.

But Gill joined the attack to trap top-scorer Hooper (26) lbw in his second over.

Spinner Peter Wilson tempted Rees (17) to find gully and Elliot Hennessy (0) became his second scalp.

Chris Smedley and Jon Dovey came together at 68-7 off 21 overs and kept the scoreboard ticking over.

Brown made the breakthrough with Jon Dovey (15) caught behind and Smedley (22) edged one as Green were bowled out in the 42nd over.

Stratford had 57 overs to reach 114 but Harris and Rurawhe put on early pressure.

Harris dismissed Adam Joseph for a duck in his second over with a great slip catch from Tim Williams.

Rurawhe trapped Steven Cootes lbw for 13 before Jon Dovey came on for a match-winning spell.

He bowled Jack Grundy and trapped Dexter Purser lbw before dangerman Wilson (29) fell to Williams’ second slip catch.

Sam Douthwaite (0) was caught behind by Ashlea Brewer second ball off Dovey.

Rob West (22) showed potential to lead Stratford to victory but man-ofthe- match Jon Dovey took two more wickets with catches by Hennessy and Rurawhe.

Stratford needed just 19 to win with plenty of overs left but West risked a quick single and was run-out by smart fielding from Hooper.

Rurawhe finished off the innings by bowling Brown for 0.