A ONE-RUN victory saw Brockhampton maintain their status in the Birmingham & District Division One for another season by the narrowest of margins.

Going into the tie Nick Powell’s side knew that victory would secure their place in the second tier of club cricket for another season.

With only the bottom side due to be relegated back to the Worcestershire League a win was vital against promotion chasing Bridgnorth in order to finish above Wellington.

After electing to bat captain Powell came in with his side struggling on 61-4 and carried his bat through the rest of the innings amassing a century and leaving his side defending 229-9.

In reply the game was always in the balance as Dominic Badger took two wickets while Luke Tulacz and Adam Hewlett took a wicket each as Bridgnorth reached 171-7.

Powell had the last say with his new-found off spin bowling taking the final four wickets with the last skittling the visitor’s out for 228.

“It was brilliant to win by one run and it was so tense,” said Brockhampton chairman Roy Wargen.

“It’s fantastic to maintain our Birmingham league status which will be our 13th year next season. It has been a hard season and some of the games we should have won we lost by two or three runs.

“Our captain is a very good crickets and used to be a quick bowler but hasn’t bowled for two years until the last few months when he has started bowling off-spin and has taken wickets just in time.”

Wargen was relieved that his side survived this season as the restructuring taking place over the summer will make it harder to win back promotion.

Teams from the Birmingham League Division Two and Three are returning to their county leagues with the top tier winners having a play-off to earn a place back in the Birmingham League.