BARNARDS Green’s outside Birmingham and District Premier Cricket League Division One promotion hopes took another blow over the Bank Holiday.

Despite a fine 28-run win over second-placed Smethwick on Saturday, Monday’s home game with struggling Harborne was abandoned, restricting Green to five points when they needed more.

The Malvern side are 26 points behind Smethwick ahead of tomorrow’s visit to mid-table Himley (noon) and the final fixture at home to basement boys Oswestry the following weekend.

But their bowling and fielding display impressed after being restricted to 198 all out from 39.5 overs.

Opener Ryan Tongue blasted seven sixes and five fours in his 89-ball 94 but only Alex Hepburn (21) and wicketkeeper Ash Brewer (25) provided much support.

However, Smethwick were bowled out for 170 in 44.2 overs as captain George Rhodes took 4-42 with his spin alongside Andy Ford (2-49), Jamie Tapper (2-3) and the economic Liam Smith (1-7).

Division Two basement boys Eastnor beat Stourbridge on Saturday but were frustrated by the rain on Monday at home to Brewood.

They need to win their final two matches at home to Shifnal tomorrow (noon) and at Coventry & NW the following weekend for any chance of beating the drop.

Eastnor skittled fellow strugglers Stourbridge for 82, with Raheel Lone claiming 4-25 before Atiq Ur Rehman guided them home on 83-4 with 26 not out.

In Worcestershire League Division One, Worcester Nomads are 45 points behind leaders Pershore with two fixtures left.

Nomads’ match at bottom-of-the-table Bromyard was abandoned on Monday but they took a 142-run win over Droitwich on Saturday.

Ben Schiffmann (4-18) and Innocent Kaia (3-13) helped dismiss Droitwich for just 64 in reply to 206 all out when Rich Henry (31) top-scored.

Bromyard’s young team lost by 113 runs at Pershore on Saturday after being skittled for 32.

But the strugglers bowled well with Dinusha Fernando (4-34) and Will Yarnold (4-32) restricting the table-toppers to 145 all out.

Fifth-placed Colwall lost at lowly Oldswinford and Stourbridge Social by two wickets after being asked to bat first.

The visitors fell for 111 in 31 overs with only James Abel (36) really troubling the scorers after batting wisely.

Five wickets went for nine runs but Jonno Gooch (5-23) and Mike Gooch (2-18) helped reduce Oldswinford to 55-8 in reply before they won in 40 overs.

Relegated Malvern lost again in Division Two by eight wickets at Evesham.