BARNT Green skipper Andy Sutton admitted their Birmingham League season has still to get going after the Cherry Hill Road side suffered the frustration of another abandoned game against West Bromwich Dartmouth this week.

Rain delays had already reduced the game to a 43 overs contest when play started.

But matters were completely cut short at the tea interval after Barnt Green had batted first and reached 215 for eight.

Sam Cheshire scored 34 and together with fellow opening batsman Luke Radford who added 17, laid a solid foundation before Cheshire was run out.

Will Baker then took up the charge to score a splendid 67 and found support from Matt Lamb who made a further 33 runs.

Sutton said: "To be honest I still thought we were 15 runs or so short. If we'd have got the total to 230 on what was a slightly used pitch, then I think we would have given Dartmouth a real run for their money taking into account their strong batting line-up."

Dartmouth, who included Warwickshire star Ateeq Javid and former England quick bowler Kabir Ali in their ranks never got to start their reply as rain closed in leaving both sides had to settle for eight points apiece.

Sutton added: "The league hasn't really settled down at the moment, we've played four games and everyone's beating everyone else. You can win one game and it could take up four or five places up the table."

Barnt Green face a big weekend ahead.

They visit early season leaders Walsall on Saturday which is the final round of games in the Birmingham League's win-lose format and then travel to Wolverhampton on Sunday for a National Clubs Knock Out contest.

At least Sutton will be able to select for both games from a position of strength with a number of players coming back to the club this weekend.

Kings School Taunton pupil Tom Banton is available while on half term together with prolific batsman Ed Pollock who is free from his Durham University studies.

Faisal Shahid should also be back to full fitness, having missed the Dartmouth match along with Lee Tyrrell who was unable to bowl against West Bromwich Dartmouth owing to injury.

BARNT Green's Second XI suffered a bad day at the office when they lost out to Coventry and North Warwicks by six wickets on the Duckworth Lewis System.

Opening batsmen Conor Ramsey with 25 and Ed Rhodes who made 24 gave the Green a solid start with the bat before they collapsed to 149 all out after veteran Coventry spinner Mark Llilley picked up four for 12.

In a revised target, Coventry required 147 to win off 43 overs and had reached 104 for four from 23 overs when rain brought play to a halt.

oventry were declared winners by virtue of a better run rate despite the efforts of Barnt Green bowler Will Neale who claimed three for 17 from five overs.