CAPTAIN Josh Banks says Stourbridge's players will reap the benefits of enjoying their cricket again.

Stour were relegated from Division Two of the Birmingham and District League last season and are hoping to bounce straight back this campaign.

However, Banks' main priority remains to get his squad to enjoy playing for the club as they look to make their mark in a closely-fought division.

"Like I said at the start of the season, the main thing for us is that we get back to enjoying our cricket above anything else," said the skipper. "I think we are starting to do that now and can hopefully continue to improve because of it. I'm pleased with how it's going."

Stour picked up more valuable points after a winning draw at home to Newport last Saturday.

Visiting skipper Mark Downes put the home side in hoping for an early break through. Openers Richard Bradley and Harshad Patel made a solid start as 10 overs produced 30 runs.

But Newport struck back with the wickets of Bradley (12) and Patel (22). Matt Bradley, promoted to the number three spot, was run out on seven with Stour's score on vulnerable 56.

Number four Zain Ul Hassan and Banks steadied the innings by putting on 97. Attempting to up the run rate Banks was caught on the off-side boundary for 53 off Shabbir Khan.

With six overs remaining Jade Richter joined Ul Hassan and they took the total from 156 to a safer 226.

Stour's opening bowling pair, Richter and Jitesh Jivan-Patel kept strict control of the run rate.

Newport's innings were ended by the rain with them on 81-1 in the 28th over.

Once play was called off, official recalculations showed Newport's low run rate gave Stour the winning draw‎. It leaves them in sixth-place but only 15 points off leaders Newport.

"In the end I was happy with the winning draw," admitted Banks. "The longer the game went on the more chance they had of winning it.

"I'm happy with the way we played but still think we were a bit short of what we needed.

"The score looked a little light but we did bat reasonably well. Myself and Zain (Ul-Hussan) managed to dig in and get a partnership going but then we had a few wickets in hand at the end and could maybe have added more.

"We bowled okay and kept it tight but they were in a dangerous position and had their best batsman in. We'll take the points, focus on the positives and look ahead.

Stour are likely to be unchanged for this Saturday's trip to ninth-placed Milford Hall (noon start).

Banks said: "You can't read anything into league positions at the moment because it's so close. We're mid-table but one win off the top. It means if we can put a good run together then it will really make a difference."