STOURBRIDGE fended off a strong challenge from second-placed Tamworth in Division Two of the Birmingham and District Premier League last Saturday.

Visitors Tamworth had to settle for a winning draw from the contest as Stour look to overcome their worst start to a season for four years.

Tamworth skipper Ben Maddox won the toss and batted first, expecting the maximum 24 points against a side propping up the rest of the division.

Stour responded by taking the wickets of opener Richard Colyer off the bowling of Zain Ul Hassan for 15.

Seven runs later, Jitesh Jivan-Patel accounted for Neil Orton, bowled for four in the 10th over.

Number three Jacob Flower and Stuart Burrows worked their way through to 101 when Burrows was caught on the boundary, hitting out at Afzal Junad, for 51 off 62 balls, in the 28th over From the score of 101-3, Tamworth blasted their way to 296 for 5.

Skipper Maddox remained not out on 82 off 78 balls, and Dean Van Deventer struck 43 of 18 balls, including four fours and three sixes in 25 minutes of mayhem that Stour took on bravely. He fell caught off Audy Alexander as the visitors reached 296.

Stour’s innings started with Alex Bingham and captain Matt Bradley taking on responsibilities, hoping for a sound start.

But it was Bingham who was first to go, falling to Van Deventor for 16. The same bowler then boosted his team’s fortunes by bowled Richard Bradley with the next delivery, leaving Stour in deep trouble with a mountain to climb.

A rescue operation began from Bradley and Alexander as they took the score from 23-2 to 91 before Bradley was judged lbw for a patient 33.

Further losses had the hosts looking at defeat, but in trouble. Nine runs later Dean Van Deventor struck another severe blow bowling Steve Game batting at number five for three runs.

Alexander and Jitesh Jivan-Patel gritted out 13 overs and took the score from 100 to 160. Van Deventor intervened again taking the wicket of Alexander caught behind for 72 off 114 balls with 8 overs of the match remaining for Tamworth to take the 24 points.

However, Jivan-Patel (45) battled it out with Ul Hassan (5) to take a draw without further wickets falling.

Dean Van Deventor took five wickets for 45 off 14 overs.

Stour go to play Eastnor on Saturday.