HIMLEY secured a vital victory against relegation rivals Wellington last Saturday.

The home side won by just five runs to keep themselves away from the Birmingham and District League Division One dropzone.

They made 188-9 from their 50 overs after Wellington had won the toss and elected to field first at Stourbridge Road.

Despite losing a top three of Bilaal Hussain (19), captain Greg Wright (14) and Callum Lea (16) cheaply, it was Shehan Fernando's important 62 that helped them to a competitive total.

Wellington started their reply well thanks to a half century from opener Imran Arif. Wendell Wagner anchored the innings with 61 to take the clash to the wire.

However, Jamie Turner and Euan Wentworth took three wickets each as the visitors fell just short in the penultimate over. Dan Durman (2-10) helped bowl out the tail before Turner finally ended Wagner's stand to secure the points.

Himley remain fourth from bottom and are 42 points ahead of second-from-bottom side Brockhampton.

Wright said: "We didn't get enough runs. A few of us got starts again but just never went on, except for Shehan Fernando who did really well.

"We also didn't start particularly well with the ball and they chanced their arm and it came off a bit.

"In the end we have battled well to come out on top. That was the main thing.

"We have some inexperienced lads in the side so it was pleasing to see we held our nerve at the finish."

Himley will now go to Tamworth this Saturday before facing Kidderminster at Chester Road on Bank Holiday Monday.

"It is going to be another huge challenge on Saturday and on Monday," added Wright. "We are again going to be missing a few and that has been the story of our season."

On Fernando's composed showing against Wellington, he said: "He is a destructive batsman and can hopefully build on his performance on Saturday.

"It's our Black Country T20 competition this week so we will all have plenty of cricket ahead of the weekend."