BARNT Green Cricket Club's First XI continued their dismal run of form by losing away to table-toppers Stratford on Saturday.

The defeat leaves Lyndon Jones's men propping up the Birmingham and District Premier League Premier Division with half the season gone.

Invited to bat first, Barnt Green came out shooting from the hip with Matt Dallaway and Richard Hall putting on 79 for the first wicket in 15 overs.

Dallaway departed on 42, chipping a catch to mid-on from the bowling of Mike Palmer.

This brought about a disastrous collapse with Hall (32), debutant Chris Bagley, Richard Illingworth and Lyndon Jones all out in quick succession.

Gavin Haynes found a partner in young Zaff Ahmed, before he too fell to the bowling of Palmer.

Enterprising

At one stage it looked as though Barnt Green wouldn't get close to 200, but an enterprising and unorthodox last-wicket partnership between Kris Howes and Jon Haden took the final total to 212.

In reply, Stratford found little difficulty against the bowling on a good pitch. Haden and Howes toiled away with the new ball, but with little luck.

Haden, in particular, was aggressive in short bursts but Barnt Green couldn't apply any sort of pressure as Warwickshire's Huw Jones carried his bat for an impressive 89 not out.

Lyndon Jones captured the two wickets that fell, lulling Humphrey and Troughton into reckless shots. Dave Graham (40 not out) and Jones abandoned any thoughts of a comeback with some assured strokeplay.

"We were always struggling trying to defend that score," said 'Green captain Lyndon Jones. "We should really have got 250 plus after the start we had and the true nature of the track.

"It shows the level of confidence in the camp when experienced players can't capitalise on a start like that. We really are low on confidence and need some victories to haul ourselves up."