BARNARDS Green’s hopes of promotion from Division One of the Birmingham League were all but ended with a 34-run loss at Wolverhampton.
Opener Saif Bhojani’s unbeaten century and a fifty from from former Indian test batsman, Wasim Jaffer, helped the hosts to 273-3 off their 50 overs.
A second-wicket partnership of 130 between George Rhodes (66) and Alex Hepburn (67) put Green in command of the chase but Chris Russell then ripped through the batting line up with 4-19 as the visitors finished short on 239-8.
After Green skipper Andy Ford won the toss and elected to bowl first Worcestershire batsman Tom Fell made 48 before he was bowled by Ford himself.
Bhojani and Jaffer then shared a stand of 109 before the latter was dismissed by Hepburn for 71 – an innings which included five sixes.
However, Bhojani stood firm at the other end to finish on 103 not out.
In the reply, Andrew Curtis fell for a duck, but Rhodes and Hepburn set about repairing the damage before they were dismissed in quick succession.
Alex Milton (30) and Ford (28) kept Green on course, but Russell returned to bowl them both and wickets then fell in regular succession ending any hopes the visitor’s had.
After Monday’s abandoned game against Shifnal, Green now lie in seventh place, 46 points behind a promotion spot with three games remaining.