JONATHAN Dovey’s five-wicket haul helped high-flying Barnards Green record a 42-run victory at Harborne in Division One of the Birmingham League.
With the Malvern based club defending just 142, Dovey ripped through the hosts batting line up with 5-28 as Harborne collapsed to 100 all out.
After Green skipper, Andy Ford, lost the toss and his side were asked to bat the visitors soon collapsed to 29-3 in bowler friendly conditions.
Adam Dovey was joined by in-form Jamie Tapper and the pair toiled away before Harborne turned to spin with Nasir Ali-Khan.
After two maidens he broke the partnership as Dovey was trapped lbw for 9.
Harborne captain, Rajiv Sen then changed ends and it paid dividends as Tapper miss-hit one to be caught by Clifford at mid-on for a hard-fought 20.
Andy Ford (5) was soon trapped in front by Ali-Khan to leave Green 71-6 before Ash Brewer came to the crease and began by hitting two fours and a big six over the score box at mid-wicket.
But the visitors were quickly eight down as Brewer was bowled by Ali-Khan for 15 and Elliot Hennessy was out lbw to Sen for five.
However, some lower-order resistance from Rishe Umasuthan (25) with support from Dovey and Liam Smith helped add a crucial 45 for the last two wickets.
With Harborne chasing a modest target in 64 overs, Liam Smith took two early wickets to leave the hosts 27-2.
Dovey then took his first two wickets in successive balls, removing Guriq Randhawa and Jimmy Clifford in successive balls.
Dovey continued his devastating spell as he clean bowled Parker for 1 in his next over and he then claimed two wickets in an over again to take fourth and fifth wickets. Sen miss-hit one to be caught by Jamie Tapper at short backward leg for 6 and Ali-Khan fell lbw without scoring to leave Harborne 72-8.
Number ten, George Land, hit two huge straight sixes off Andy Ford and another boundary off Dovey before Mark Hardinges returned the attack and
Land skied his second ball to be well caught by Alex Milton at mid-on for 19. Just four balls later keeper Alex Perry was clean bowled to give Hardinges his second wicket and Green the victory.
The 24 point win for Barnards Green takes them to second in the table.