BARTESTREE & Lugwardine are maintaining their battle to survive in the Worcestershire County League Division One.

The Herefordshire side headed to table toppers Barnt Green seconds and were given confidence by winning the toss and electing to bowl.

Some average fielding from Bartestree meant that the hosts’ openers got slightly away from them with Elliot Evans (30) and Alfie Higgins (28) putting 54 runs on for the opening wicket.

It was the golden arm of skipper Ryan Trattell (4-63) who struck on his first ball to take the first wicket of the innings.

Max Backhouse (2-73) joined the attack and wickets fell at fairly regular intervals with only Hayden Froggatt (95) building a big score.

On a fairly flat deck 237-8 was not a bad effort by the visiting bowlers

As soon as the teams left the pitch the heavens opened and after a couple of hours Bartestree were given 25 overs.

However, their target was unknown so the visitors went on the attack. However Matt Tulacz, Backhouse and Trattell all went early doors and Bartestree were up against it.

Andy Rogers stood firm and Edward Milner was scoring at will at the other end.

Rogers was adjudged LBW and that brought Charlie Cole to the crease. Word came out that Bartestree needed 119 for the “winning draw” so that was the target.

However, Milner (41) and Cole (31) both got out towards the end of their innings.

However, Adam Davies (10) brought his side to their apparent target with a big six to finish his side on 126-8.

Bartestree were awarded nine points and a losing draw for their performance.

Bartestree seconds were hosting Pershore thirds in the Division Seven (South).

Some 11 dropped catches allowed the visitors to accumulate 251. Despite a valiant 90 from Sam Pratley Bartestree fell short of their revised target of 213 finishing on 198-7.