ASTWOOD Bank's middle order and tail continued to show the top order how it's done as another determined display saw them earn a losing draw against high-flying Streetly.

Am impressive 89 partnership between David Sewell (44) and 17-year-old Joel Haslam (40) ensured they earned some vital bonus points in their battle against relegation in the Birmingham and District League Division Three, although they were leapfrogged by Millford Hall and slipped back into the bottom four.

The hosts won the toss and elected to bat first and left Astwood's bowlers to toil on a batting friendly surface in a small ground.

Neil Curtis (79), Sam Bates (50) and Shoaib Shaikh (35) scored Streetly's runs as they made 275-8.

Thomas Harris (3-44), Jonathan Summers (2-35) and Jonathan Summers (2-45) were in good form.

Bank's reply got off to a bad start when 14-year-old Ryan Blakemore was bowled by Shaikh (3-40) as they found the going tough.

Captain Steve Adshead made in-roads with swift 32 but he was also a victim to Shaikh.

Brandon Miller (17), Harris (5) and Andrew Alexander (0) all went cheaply as the away side were reduced to 56-5, before Sewell and Halsam got them back on track.

Once Sewell was caught by Neil Curtis, Jonathan Summers then struck 43 as Bank reached 215-8.

Adshead said: "I think I have said before, it's great to have the middle order and tail wag because it takes the pressure off the top order.

"David and Joel batted very well and I was pleased to have got something from the game.

"However, if we were going to win the game then one of the top order needed to score a century.

"I had scored 32 runs and really should have gone onto add more.

"I think there is more responsibility on the person who has already scored some runs.

"Streetly's ground is quite small and if we had more wickets in hand then we could have pushed on. Streetly scored a lot of their runs late on."

Astwood are hoping Sam Thomas (broken finger) will have recovered from injury in time for Saturday's clash at Millford Hall (noon start).

Alex Robinson (wrist) is still a doubt.