STOURBRIDGE skipper Josh Banks says he felt both relief and disappointment after his side's thrilling tie with Lichfield.

Leaders Stour maintained their unbeaten start to their Birmingham and District League Division Three campaign after a weather-hit clash at the War Memorial Ground last Saturday.

Lichfield were bowled out for 138 after winning the toss and choosing to bat following a delayed start to the contest. The visitors were soon 37-5 by the 12th over as Zain Ul-Hussan ripped through the top order.

However, number seven Joe Seagre hit an unbeaten 55 after a two-hour rain break to help his side recover.

Stour’s reply started badly as Harshad Patel was caught and bowled in the second over by Adam Peat without scoring. Recovery came from Ul-Hasan and opener Alex Bingham. They took the score to 72 when Thomas Stone deceived young Ul-Hassan into giving him a return catch on 41.

Stour’s troubles in reaching a low score started when Bingham was caught behind off the venomous James Wilkinson for 23.

Lichfield crept back into the game by capturing the wickets of Richard Bradley (13), Matt Bradley (9) and Jade Richter (6).

Stour needed 30 runs off 30 balls and with six wickets down. Banks and Jivan-Patel, batting at seven and eight, offered hope by taking sensible singles before the latter hit two fours to ease the pressure.

Jivan-Patel was caught in the final over with the target into single figures. Banks and Dominic O’Reilly scrambled two off the final delivery to reach the 136 target set by Duckworth and Lewis (D/L) to leave the game tied.

Banks said: "It was disappointing because we dominated 70 per cent of the game. We fielded really well and I think the thing that cost us was that we didn't go on with the bat. A few of those higher up the order go starts but didn't make a bigger score. If we do that I think we win the game.

"I was batting for the last over and their man has done well and the ball was hard to get under.

"At that point it could have gone either way and it would have been really disappointing if we'd have let it slip.

"There was relief that we didn't lose the game but disappointment that we didn't manage to win it from a strong position.

"Confidence is still high at the moment and this is probably the first game we've come away thinking we could have got more, so we now need to react to that."

Stour face Stratford-upon-Avon away this Saturday (noon start).

"We know a bit about Stratford because they came down with us last season," added Banks. "It's the last game of the win-lose format so a positive result this weekend would set us up nicely for the next set of games."

Stour will be without key bowler Dan Such and will assess their options closer to the weekend.