PROLIFIC pinch hitter Ed Pollock handed bottom of the table Barnt Green a relegation lifeline as they pulled off a 27 run success over Ombersley in the Birmingham League Premier Division.

Pollock plundered 91 runs off just 47 balls, hitting eight fours and nine sixes in the process as he pulled Ombersley's bowling attack apart.

He helped lay the foundation for a huge Barnt Green total of 299 for seven.

But the Green were also grateful to 17-year-olds Zain Ul Hassan and Jacques Banton who both kept the runs flowing after Pollock departed.

Hassan hit a further 68 while Banton added 42.

Skipper Andy Sutton then finished the innings with a flurry on 41 not out.

It proved too much for Ombersley in reply, who finally fell short on 272 all out to give the Green a vital victory in their battle to beat the drop.

That was after the Green had lost opening bat Jamie Harrison to the second ball of the game.

But once Pollock was into his stride, there was no stopping him.

A delighted Andy Sutton said: "Ed just went berserk for the first 20 balls and kept despatching them into the trees.

"We had to position three or four people out their to find the ball.

"Ed was just in one of those moods and bludgeoned the new ball. It was total destruction. The only chance he gave, was the one he got out to.

"But I was equally pleased by the way the two boys responded. They didn't try to keep pace with Ed, they just played properly.

"To be honest, Ed's more than just a pinch hitter, he's a proper batsman and his performance just added to a great game which was a superb advert for Birmingham League cricket."

Ombersley did their best to keep up with former England under-19 bat Josh Dell scoring exactly 100.

But Sutton kept a tight rein with the ball by taking three for 35 with Zain Ul Hassan three for 48 and 16-year-old Dan Meredith claiming three for 55 to make sure Ombersley fell short.

The result still leaves the Green locked in bottom spot with Wolverhampton, but with both Walsall and Dorridge now within close striking distance.

Sutton is confident he will have his Warwickshire pair of Matt Lamb and Pollock available for the remaining five fixtures, starting with a crunch trip to Wolverhampton on Saturday followed by a home contest with Kenilworth Wardens on Bank Holiday Monday.

But Sutton also believes he could still have use of leg spinner Josh Poysden, despite his move to Yorkshire last week from Warwickshire on a three year deal.