STUART Wedge says the games are the easy part as Himley’s battle for the Birmingham League crown heats up.

Talk of the title is rampant at Stourbridge Road now the club have closed to within four points of leaders Walsall with just two games of the season remaining.

And Wedge says playing the matches has become preferable to talking about them as the tension has mounted.

He said: “When the game starts we switch on and get on with the job.

“The hard part is all the waiting during the week.

“You want to talk about it but you try not to, it’s hard not to get too excited about.

“But when the bell goes on a Saturday it’s back to business and what we have been good at this season, which is taking wickets and scoring runs.”

Walsall lead by more than 30 points at one stage but have seen their advantage steadily decrease as the finishing line approaches.

It closed by a further four points last Saturday, thanks in large part to a gutsy call by Wedge.

After winning the toss at Brochampton, the Himley skipper chose to bat in order to give his side the chance of a 24 point win and the gamble paid off.

Greg Wright top scored with 65 and Tom Kohler-Cadmore also struck 63 in Himley’s total of 223-9 from 55 overs.

Dan Smith, who has missed much of the season through injury, then claimed 4-37 and Ashfak Hussain 3-33 as the hosts were bowled out for just 185.

Wedge said: “With three games to go we knew if we scored 24 points it would close the gap a little bit more.

“The theory is to win the toss and bowl and a lot of the time it is the easiest way.

“But on Saturday we felt we would back ourselves to bat well and then bowl them out.

“It paid off in the end.

“Confidence is high, we have done fantastically well to close the gap and we seem to be on a roll.

“We hope it continues.”

Himley travel to Barnt Green at the weekend. Walsall are away at Kidderminster Victoria.