REHAAN Edavalath scored 95 runs as he guided Barnards Green to a crucial victory over Wolverhampton in their bid to avoid relegation from club cricket's top-flight.

With three games left in the 2023 Birmingham & District Premier Cricket League Premier Division One season, Green sit 13 points clear of the bottom two after Saturday's 18-run win at Wolverhampton. 

Having won the toss, Green opted to bat first and openers Edavalath and Ryan Tongue gave them a solid platform with a 70-run partnership.

Tongue was then bowled by Ravi Kumar and Dan Holland was not far behind him when caught off Joe Stanley for just 14 runs. 

That brought George Rhodes to the crease and that signified the start of what would prove to be a vital partnership in the innings. Rhodes played sensibly for a patient 36 whilst Edavalath racked up the runs, but when he was caught out, the innings began to collapse.

Zia Ul Haq Parwani was responsible for the wickets of Rhodes, Phil Harris (2), Oliver Hallion (8) and Ollie Rogoff (17), whilst Charles Jackson claimed the crucial wicket of Edavalath (95) as the away side slipped from 181-2 to 217-7.

Ben Sutton (1), Josh Dickenson (6) and Ashlea Brewer (2) could only add a further 10 runs between them as Green were bowled out for 227.

It was probably a slightly under par score, especially given the position they had been in, and it was going to require a disciplined display with the ball to record a victory. 

And ultimately, that is what they got. 

Clarke, Sutton and Rhodes accounted for the wickets of opener Warrick Fynn (10), Benjamin Horne (32) and Parwani (4) as Wolverhampton were reduced to 67-3.

In Worcestershire's Tom Fell, the hosts had hope and a 50-partnership with Will Nield for the fourth wicket helped them stabilise the innings and build a score before Dickenson had the dangerous Nield ran out for 32.

Joe Stanley and Hassan Quami were caught off the bowling of Sutton and Dickenson respectively, whilst Tongue claimed the key wicket of Fell to put Green in the driving seat at 162-7.

Haris Khan was caught and bowled by Rhodes for 12 and when Sam Ellis was caught on 10 by Clarke, Green only required one more wicket.

But Jackson came to the crease to play and he hit a six and two fours off just 19 deliveries to move onto 28 as he threatened to win it by himself. 

However, still 18 runs off victory, number 11 Kumar clipped one to Holland off the bowling of Harris as Green claimed victory.