Walsall 243-5 Barnt Green 143 all out

Barnt Green lost by 100 runs

THE RUNS dried up for Barnt Green under a baking sun as the Birmingham and District Premier Division champions slipped to a heavy loss against bogey side Walsall on Saturday.

The champions suffered an uncharacteristic batting collapse and were unable to catch a Walsall side inspired by century maker Nathan Round.

The Walsall all rounder smashed 104 and in contrast the whole of Green's normally formidable batting order struggled to get into double figures.

Team manager Paul Clarke said: "Nathan Round hit a very good 100 but we always thought it was a total we could get close to.

"We reached 46-2 and looked comfortable but nobody really got any runs. "We had people make 18s and 20s but never really go on and hit a big score."

Captain Simon Froggatt was missing the match after falling foul to a bout of food poisoning.

Green had made a decent start with the ball as pace ace Miraj Ahmed trapped Richard Mills lbw for six runs.

Graeme Archer, who was a pivotal player in Walsall's win over Green in the GW Trophy in April, was caught by Gavin Shephard of Lyndon Jones.

Paul Baker also frustrated Green's bowlers with 38 until he was bowled by Shephard. However, Round's 104 made the difference as Green's opponents made 243-5.

The champions never recovered from bad start as Richard Hall (2) and Nathan Newport (6) were removed cheaply.

Brothers Stuart (20) and Gavin Shephard (22) fell victim to Round's spin, before stand-in captain Matt Dallaway was bowled for eight runs.

Matt Rawnsley (12), Adam Smith (12), Phil Mann (19), Ahmed and Gareth Williams were all cheaply dismissed as Green were bowled out for 143. Round proved to be the champion's greatest foe - taking 4-32 to add to his runs.

Clarke said: "We've had a few games called off and suffered a few losses so some of the lads are struggling for form. But in a few weeks players can return back to their best.

"But we did bat poorly against Walsall. Nobody thought we were going to be bowled out for such a low total."