BARNARDS Green shot up the Birmingham and District Premier Cricket League Division One table to fifth.

They recorded a comfortable 68-run win over Harborne at North End Lane to move above their opponents.

Green managed back-to-back victories for the first time since the start of May.

Harborne won the toss and chose to bowl first on a damp, soft wicket.

Openers George Rhodes and Andrew Curtis took time to adjust to the conditions.

Warwick Paul trapped Curtis (2) lbw before Alex Hepburn brought up the 50 in the 16th over with a four.

It jolted the batsmen into action as they combined quick singles and boundaries.

The score was on 97 in the 25th over when Hepburn (31) scampered down the wicket to take on Nasir Ali Khan but was bowled.

Alex Milton (6) pushed through mid-wicket for four to bring up the 100 but fell next over lbw to George Land.

Mark Hardinges (15) was controversially given out lbw off Dalton Polius before Andy Ford was caught behind for a duck.

Green were on 139-6 but Kev Golder supported Rhodes well as the pair put on 76 runs in around 10 overs.

Rhodes claimed his second ton of the season with a six before being bowled by Land (3-41) for 103 off 119 balls, including nine fours and three sixes.

Ash Brewer (1) was caught on the boundary and Golder bowled for a valuable 30.

Chris Smedley (2 not out) and Jon Dovey, with nine off three balls, took Green to 229-8 off 50 overs.

Opening bowlers Hardinges and Hepburn made life difficult early on.

Hepburn made the first breakthrough as Clifford (1) was caught by Ford at slip.

Hardinges bagged two quick wickets, bowling Darren Franklin (15) and forcing Matt Parker (0) to edge to Ford.

Harborne were reduced to 38-3 in the 11th over but the next pair Randhawa and Polius looked dangerous.

But Dovey broke the partnership when he trapped Guriq Randhawa (35) lbw.

Smedley claimed the key wicket of Polius (23) with a loosener that the batsman skied to Dovey at mid-wicket.

Paul and Andrew Lloyd kept up a good run-rate with singles and the odd boundary.

But skipper Ford bowled Lloyd (15) with his first ball.

Spinners Ford, Smedley and Rhodes put pressure on skipper Rajiv Sen and Paul as the run-rate fell.

It took them 10 overs to put on 29 runs before the pressure told with Ford claiming wickets in consecutive overs.

Paull (15) was caught by Rhodes at mid-wicket and Alex Perry (3) trapped lbw.

Hardinges returned to finish off Harborne as Rhodes took his second catch to dismiss Sen (16).

But catch of the day went to wicketkeeper Brewer, who dived full-length to dismiss Ali Khan (11) one-handed.

Harborne were bowled out for 161 in the 39th over with Hardinges finishing on 4-19 and Ford 3-32 in a fine bowling and fielding display.

Green visit second-placed Wolverhampton on Saturday and host Shifnal on Bank Holiday Monday (both noon).

On Sunday, Green compete in Worcestershire Cup finals day.

They play against Ombersley (9.45am) with the winner facing Bromsgrove or Stourbridge at New Road (4.30pm).