ASTWOOD Bank skipper Steve Adshead took the positives from a losing draw to Birmingham League Division Three rivals Aston Manor on Saturday.

Bank had lost the toss and were put into bowl first and Manor made a brilliant start as opening batsmen Thomas Caulfield (59) and Rahul Bakshi (107) guided them away side to 152.

The stand was finally broken when Jon Summers had Dan Thomas catch Caulfield.

Bank's opponents then lost wickets steadily and made 242-7 in their 55 overs.

Andrzej Jagielski (2-58) and Matthew MacDonald took two wickets each, while Thomas Harris, Summers and Dan Taylor contributed with one each.

However, Bank's reply was affected by the rain and they were handed a revised target of 208 for a winning draw after losing ten overs.

The home team's reply looked on course but when Adshead was dismissed for 44, they slipped from 142-4, to 189-7 in 45 overs.

Adshead said: "We've not batted well recently but I wasn't unhappy with the way we played.

"While no one get a big score, we had players contribute with runs all the way down the order.

"We looked on course, until I was bowled out."

Bank will be missing Alex Robinson, Tom Pedley, Andy Alexander and Dan Thomas for Saturday's home game against Hawkins C&R (noon start).

But Ryan Blakemore, Andy Williams, Pete Alexander and Mark Richardson look set to be drafted in.

Adshead said: "While we are missing a few players, the good thing is that the seconds play in Division One of the Birmingham League, so the guys coming in are playing at a decent standard."