COVENTRY and North Warwickshire professional Mark Lavine died from a suspected heart attack in a Birmingham Premier League cricket match against Barnt Green on Saturday.

The Barbados-born South African all-rounder collapsed shortly after leaving the field at Binley Road, having complained of feeling unwell.

Despite paramedics being called and two attempts to give him the kiss of life, including one from former Coventry City goalkeeper Steve Ogrizovic, Lavine was certified dead by the time he reached hospital.

Lavine had earlier hit 127 against 'Green and taken two wickets to reduce the Cherry Hill Road outfit to 33 for three. Although Lavine had already left the field, the game was immediately abandoned and the League confirmed the game may be replayed.

l Barnt Green held out for a nervous draw against Walsall last Saturday, thanks mainly to a fighting knock from captain Lyndon Jones.

Winning the toss, Barnt Green inserted the visitors hoping to keep things tight and perhaps nick a few early wickets. However, things looked ominous as Baker and in particular Burroughs looked comfortable against some wayward early bowling.

Nineteen-year-old debutant John Hayden came on at the Barnt Green Inn end and promptly captured two quick wickets. This slowed the run rate but Burroughs carried serenely on and found an able ally in Richard Mills.

Burroughs reached a well-deserved hundred after being dropped twice off the bowling of Jones. Hayden finished with 3-35 off 11 overs, Jones nabbed 1-72 off 19 overs.

The 'Green were scuppered early on in their reply when Dallaway fell cheaply to a debatable LBW shout.

Another debutant was Duncan Catterall who nicked Young behind.

ACCURATE ATTACK

Runs were hard to come by against an accurate attack and Barnt Green fell further behind the rate. Jones joined Haynes with six an over needed to win.

It looked ominous as Haynes fell LBW to Walsall's overseas off-spinner. Barnt Green adjusted their strategy to avoid getting bowled out and attempt to reach 160 to get a batting point.

Even this looked a tough task as wickets tumbled. Hind came in with plenty of time left to lose the match, but he worked at the task manfully.

Jones took responsibility with the runs and Barnt Green managed to grab the extra point they needed with two overs left.

Hind survived the last over from Young to finally frustrate Walsall in their attempts to grab 20 points, ending with 12, while the Cherry Hill Road battlers limped away with five points.

Sunday was a disaster for Barnt Green as they were knocked out of the National Knockout Cup at the first hurdle by Sutton Coldfield. The visitors had first use of the wicket and posted 218 off their 45 overs. In reply Barnt Green always struggled against some tidy bowling. Only Gavin Haynes (68) and Lyndon Jones (37) looked like getting the home side near the target.

However, fine cameos by Chris Edwards, Adam Smith and Michael Hind nearly won the game for Barnt Green. However it was all in vain as the 'Green finished three runs short.

Captain Jones blasted: "We didn't play anything like we can. Our standards were not high in the field which resulted in us chasing 20-30 runs too many.

"You can't expect to bowl and field like that and go on to win games. Whilst I was reasonably pleased by the character shown on Saturday, we have got to change attitudes and improve or it'll be a long summer ahead."