A CENTURY partnership between George Rhodes and Ryan Tongue guided Barnards Green to victory at Brockhampton in Birmingham League Division One.

Determination from Green’s bowlers and fielders restricted the hosts to 239-9 when at times they looked to be heading towards 280.

But it was Tongue (83) and Rhodes (82) who made the match-winning contribution as their fourth-wicket stand of 117 secured their side a seven-wicket win.

After winning the toss Brockhampton took the score to 43 when Jon Dovey had Chris Powell (12) caught by Phil Harris at mid-wicket.

Adam Hewlett rode his luck with a number of false shots and edged boundaries through the slips. But his luck finally ran out as he was clean bowled by Rhodes for 65 – leaving Brockhampton 106-2 off 23 overs.

Henry Langford batted aggressively from the start, hitting three fours off Josh Blunt and a six off Rhodes before he misjudged one and was caught by Tongue for 19.

Andy Ford then returned for his second spell with immediate effect - trapping Ian Bullock lbw for 10 - Brockhampton were 154-4 in the 33rd over.

New batsmen Nick Powell and Joe Crichard tried to up the run rate with more aggressive running between the wickets.

But accurate bowling from Ford in particular made it difficult for them to get boundaries. The pressure told as Powell attempted a scoop off Dovey and was bowled.

Brockhampton’s 226-5 became 239-9 in the final four overs as they sought to get to 250.

Harris was involved in three of the wickets as he bowled Crichard for a run-a-ball 70, ran out Dominic Badger (6) and dismissed Jamie McIllroy for a golden duck.

The final wicket to fall was Tom Austwick who was clean bowled by Tongue for one.

In reply, Green did not get off to a great start as Dannie Rees (1) was removed by McIllroy in the first over.

After Langford took the ticket of Adam Wiffen, the Malvern side were on 61-2 in the 12th over when Rhodes joined Tongue at the crease.

Both looked comfortable with Tongue passing 50 off 65 balls as the visitors reached 129-2 at the halfway point.

Rhodes also struck a half century and the score moved to 178 when the partnership was finally broken.

Tongue was well caught by Crichard at deep mid-wicket but his replacement Phil Harris hit the ground running.

He smashed two huge sixes as Green achieved their target with more than 11 overs left, with Harris on 31and Rhodes 18 short of his century.