BARNT Green are back on the National Knock-Out Cup trail again after overwhelming Birmingham League rivals Wombourne in the regional final.

Birthday boy James East stepped up from the seconds and stole the show with a superb display of seam bowling to prise out five wickets.

It triggered a collapse as Wombourne were bowled out for 118 when chasing Green’s total of 223-6.

Skipper Andy Sutton said: ““We were a bit depleted and I had to call up a few from the Seconds, but they all did superbly well.

“I asked James to do a job for me in the middle of the innings and he was excellent. “He did a really good job, bowling a good line and length, forcing the batsmen into errors.”

Jack Williams had earlier excelled with the bat by making top score of 94, cutting loose in the final few overs after Nathan Newport had laid the foundations with 49.

The Green are now guaranteed a home tie in the next round which takes place at Cherry Hill on July 14.

Barnt Green bagged a winning draw against Himley in the Birmingham League on Saturday.

They recovered from losing their Unicorns batsman James Ord from the first ball of the game when Himley strike bowler Danny Smith dismissed him with an inswinging delivery.

Sam Hain, Tom Burton and Craig Crowe all steadied the innings as the Green recovered to reach 213 for eight and Himley never looked like overtaking that total as they closed on 167-7.

Sutton said: “Himley shut up shop after they went six wickets down and it was one of those wickets where it was difficult to get people out.

“I was pleased with the performance, because we batted sensibly. Nobody panicked when we lost James Ord first ball, we used our brains and kept wickets in hand so that we could attack during the last 10 overs.”

The Green entertain Walmley this Saturday at Cherry Hill and Sutton admitted he’s suddenly spoilt for choice.

Brothers Ed and Alistair Pollock are both available, with the former finishing his commitments for Shrewsbury School, while the latter has been playing for Cambridge University.

Warwickshire Academy batsman Matt Lamb also comes into the reckoning after previously being required by Bromsgrove School.