BARNT Green skipper Andy Sutton praised his young players this week as they continued their flying start to the Birmingham League campaign by putting Kenilworth Wardens to the sword with a sumptuous batting display.

Having bowled out Shrewsbury for just 54 runs the previous week, the Green's talented teenage openers Jamie Harrison and Tom Banton then took charge with the bat by laying the foundations for a handsome 101 run victory.

Harrison, who has joined Barnt Green from Walmley this season, together with 17-year-old England under-19 prospect Banton put on 140 for the opening stand.

Banton suffered the agony of being dismissed on 99 while Harrison struck 67.

Aussie James Psarakis also got in on the act by scoring 95 while Sutton himself struck a belated 45 as the Green reached an imposing total of 356 for four from their allotted 50 overs.

It proved too much for Wardens who were restricted to 255 for eight in reply at close.

Sutton revealed: "We lost the toss and got put into bat. I would have certainly bowled given the chance as the conditions were cloudy and the pitch was fresh.

"Both Jamie and Tom had to survive a sticky opening period when the ball swung around for the first 10 to 15 overs. Yes , they had a bit of luck but left the ball well.

"But once the swing lessened and they started seeing the ball better, they were positive and ran well and gave us the platform to go hard in the closing stages."

But Sutton also singled out the performance of home grown 16-year-old seam bowler Adam Hines who opened the attack.

Sutton said: "We only had two seamers, Adam and myself, so we had to get it right.

Adam bowled superbly and took two early wickets with the new ball, that by the 10th over we'd practically put the game to bed."

Sutton added: "We worked it out that the average age of the side against Kenilworth was just 19-years-old.

"When you consider we were missing people like Josh Poysden and Matt Lamb who were playing for Warwickshire while Ed Pollock and Darryl Williams were unavailable, it just shows the strength in depth at the club.

"It's going to make for a few selection posers when everyone becomes available - which is a nice problem to have."

The Green play hosts to Knowle and Dorridge this Saturday at Cherry Hill Road (noon).