ASTWOOD Bank skipper Steve Adshead accepts he must start winning the toss more often after his side held out heroically for a draw against Pershore in Birmingham League Division Two.

Adshead has only chosen correctly once in his last eight attempts and he admitted: "It would make life a bit more easier if I started calling correctly".

Unlucky Adshead again called incorrectly against Pershore who promptly opted to bat first and duly piled on the runs to reach 247 for nine.

With the wicket producing much more variable bounce in reply, the Bank had to thank last pair of dogged Dave Sewell and Dan Brookes for standing firm as they finally closed on 184 for nine.

Adshead insisted: "I was really pleased that we didn't lose. It shows we're a side who are not going to roll over.

"It wasn't a terrible wicket, but I would have wanted to bat first.

"We played relatively well until the last five overs of their innings when they started to get away from us."

The Bank were going well in response having initially lost opener Tom Pedley with just one run on the board.

Tom Underhill thumped 81 while Pete Alexander added a further 27 to put the Bank in with a chance of victory.

The pair put on 101 for the fifth wicket before Alexander fell with the score on 162.

Adshead added: "At one stage, we only wanted 99 off 25 overs when Pete got out. They had a very good spinner in Taylor Pugh, who was then able to apply pressure, which was followed by a flurry of wickets.

"It meant the last pair had to survive nine overs but showed great resistance to close it down.

"This also shows the players are learning. Dan Brookes is only 18, as is seam bowler Jake Price, who picked up four for 60 when Pershore batted.

The Bank travel to Coventry and North Warwicks this Saturday looking to pick up points to pull clear of the bottom two.