STOURBRIDGE skipper Josh Banks believes crucial decisions cost his side as they missed the chance to pull clear at the top, following a losing draw with Whitchurch.

Undefeated Stour travelled to Whitchurch on Saturday looking to snatch the top spot from Rugby in Division Three of the Birmingham and District League.

Whitchurch batted first and made 174 off 55 overs, with number five batsman Ijaz Yousaf keeping them in the game by scoring 70. He helped his side move from 86 for four to 167 for eight.

Stour’s Husnaine Nawaz put in a strong display as he claimed four wickets for 47 off 15 overs. Whitchurch finished 174 for nine - a score well within the reach of Stourbridge

But in reply Stour crumbled to 81 for six. Opener Harshad Patel survived the inconsistent bounce and was eventually out caught off Elliott Brown with the score on 63 for five.

All was not lost for Stour as Dwayne Crosgill (66) and Dominic O’Reilly (17) stopped the flow of wickets.

By the Stour pair were out, at 160 for eight Whitchurch had run out of overs to bowl out Stour’s tail.

The losing draw moves Stour at joint top with Stratford-Upon-Avon, with Old Hill taking the fourth spot by beating Rugby.

But with 24 points at stake, Stour captain Banks rued some key decisions that he believes cost his side dearly.

“It was disappointing as we had the expectation to win,” he said.

“It was a combination of a really poor pitch and some poor decisions.

“We definitely got the rough end of the stick with two of three crucial decisions.

“They cost us the game without a shadow of a doubt. We would have won that game comfortably.

“We had a few players missing but we had people who could step up and come in too. We were well capable of winning the game.

“The game just swung to and fro. They were playing their best and we were probably at less than 50 per cent.”

Stour will travel to Pelsall on Saturday next for a noon start.

Banks added: “Pelsall have had a mixed start. They are a fine team and they’ve got a few fiery lads but so have we, so we’ll focus on the cricket.

“We are top at the moment and there is still a long way to go.”