Walsall 242-3 (14pts)
Barnt Green 163-5 (5pts)
Match Drawn

A THREADBARE Barnt Green side had to settle for a losing draw in Saturday's Birmingham and District League Premier Division top of the table clash.

Once again Green were shy of options in the bowling department, with only skipper Dougie Brown and youngsters Mehraj Ahmed and Phil Mann available to make up their attack.

Walsall capitalised on this and despite losing captain Chris Tranter for a duck, they accelerated to a sizeable total on what was deemed a good bowling wicket.

Paul Baker was out for 32, bringing together New Zealander Brad Wilson and former Warwickshire favourite Mo Sheikh.

They amassed a huge partnership with Wilson making 88 before being dismissed by Phil Mann, and Sheikh finishing not out on 84.

For Green, Brown managed 1-42 from his 21 overs, Ahmed took 1-63 from 14 overs, while Mann ended up with figures of 1-81 from 20 overs.

In reply, Gavin Shephard (7) was removed early on by Paul Wicker, before Nathan Newport (24) and Richard Hall (59) set about building a decent partnership.

But wickets tumbled with Stuart Shephard (22) and Dai Williams (15) next to go.

The game was seen out by Paul Bedford, who was unbeaten on 21, and Brown (four not out).

Man of the match Sheikh finished with figures of 2-34.

In Birmingham and District League Division Two, Ombersley suffered a 75-run defeat to Penn.

Penn batted first and were bowled out for 179, with Neil Slade taking an impressive 4-37 for Ombersley.

But Ombersley slumped to just 104 all out in 42.2 overs.