BARNT Green bounced back from their opening day defeat in the Birmingham Premier in style as they defeated Walsall by 90 runs.

Batsman Tom Burton was the star for the Cherry Hill Road side as he struck a fluent 125 runs off 111 balls.

He also forged a key stand with Ed Pollock as Green posted 248 all out.

Former Sussex leg spinner Joshua Poysden, who is on trial at Warwickshire, made a fine debut with 4-39, while skipper Andrew Sutton (2-24) and Luke Radford (3-32) dismissed Walsall for 158.

Sutton said: “Tom played very well. He had only scored a handful of runs before, but I think he was trying to rush things.

“I had a chat with him and told him to play his game. He’s naturally a quick run scorer, so he doesn’t need to rush it.

“It was a good win for us and just what we needed.

“With the champions Shrewsbury losing their first two games it has made the division very open.

“I’ve said it before, this league has a lot of very good players in it and there is some tough cricket being played.”

Green, who resume in the league at home to Kenilworth Wardens on Saturday (noon start), also got the better of Kidderminster Victoria in the ECB National T20 on Bank Holiday Monday by 26 runs.

They scored an impressive 190 runs, with Burton smashing 44 off 19 balls, Pollock (53) and Nathan Newport (41) also doing the damage. James East bagged a four-wicket haul as Barnt Green’s Worcestershire rivals were restricted to 161-9.

Last week, Green exited the National Knockout Cup after losing to Leamington.