ASTWOOD Bank skipper Steve Adshead took the positives out of a frustrating afternoon which saw their Birmingham League Division Three opening clash end in defeat to Fordhouses.

In a game hit hard by a hailstorm, Astwood were scuppered by the weather.

Put into bat, Bank took advantage on a difficult batting surface by making 203 all out in 47 overs, with Adshead striking 96 runs.

The hosts then reduced Fordhouses to 67-3 after 14 overs as the game looked evenly-poised when there was a break for hail.

Fordhouses were set a target of 48 more runs off six overs and then made 119-4, mainly thanks to Ruhan Pretorius’ 44 not out off 28 balls.

Thomas Harris (2-26), Jake Price (1-16) and Andrzej Jagielski (1-21) were the home team’s wicket-takers.

“We were put into bat on a damp wicket and were pleased to have 200 runs.

“We then got them three down but the break in play meant they only needed 48 runs from six overs.

“There were still restrictions and we’d used all our seamers so had to rely on spinners in very unfriendly conditions.

“But there were positives to take for our next game.”

Astwood go to Eastnor on Saturday (noon start).