BARNARDS Green continued their impressive record against county rivals Bromsgrove with a six-wicket victory.

The all-Worcestershire clash at St Godwald’s Park saw Green dismiss the hosts for 158 in Birmingham League Premier Division Two.

The total would have been significantly less without a seventh-wicket stand of 71 between captain Mark Evenson (49) and Tom Hill (42).

Taylor Pugh (3-24) and Jon Dovey (3-41) bowled well for Green but their star man was skipper Ryan Tongue who hit an unbeaten 85 from 93 balls.

Tongue and Andy Ford (53 not out) came together at 71-4 and remained at the crease until victory was achieved on 161-4 with more than 24 overs to spare.

Green’s 20 points took them up to seventh in a congested league table.

Dovey was unplayable at times and took two key wickets after Tongue claimed the first with a run out from Mahaz Ahmed leaving Bromsgrove on 40-4.

Tongue and Josh Dickenson then reduced the home side to 71-6 in the 33rd over.

Evenson and Hill hit a string of boundaries before Pugh ended the partnership by trapping the latter lbw.

Pugh also bowled Evenson just one short of his half-century and mopped up the innings with Dovey in the 51st over.

Josh Blunt, Ahmed and Joe Crichard departed cheaply in reply to leave Green on 44-2.

But Rehaan Edavalath (10) provided Tongue with support before Ford joined the captain for an unbeaten match-winning partnership of 90 runs.

Ford hit seven fours and two sixes while Tongue struck 10 fours and three sixes in his eye-catching innings.

Green return to North End Lane on Saturday to host second-placed Harborne (noon).

The Malvern club's seconds crashed at home to Worcestershire League Division Three leaders Netherton by 212 runs.

Third-from-bottom Green were bowled out for 116 in 18.3 overs in reply to a daunting 328-8.

Opening bowlers Jack Mackintosh took 3-61 and Lewis Regan 2-79 as skipper Troy Lee scored 103 and Simon Oseland 40.

Captain and opener Andy Wheeler (30) top scored in reply with Dominic Priest claiming 5-63 and Wasim Ahmed 4-8 from five overs.

Green's thirds won by two wickets at Bromyard thirds in Division 12 South West.

Sam Muirhead scored 52 in Bromyard's 187 all out with Ben Clarke taking 4-25.

Nick Davies (60) and Ollie Davies (39) were among the runs in the successful reply of 190-8.