SKIPPER Andy Sutton said there were still much room for improvement after Barnt Green started their Birmingham League Premier campaign with a defeat at Knowle and Dorridge on Saturday.

In a game shortened the rain, Green suffered a 46-run loss after the Duckworth Lewis came in.

Green had won the toss and opted to put in the hosts to bat first but opening batsmen Dominic Harding (67) and Alex Phillips (95) handed Knowle the perfect start.

The home side had reached 136 when Matt Lamb had Harding trapped lbw.

Beau Webster (28) was next to go as Sutton (3-72) had him caught by Luke Radford.

Jonathan Webb (23) and Sam Reddish (17) added more runs and was supported Phillips, before he was done lbw by Green’s skipper.

Knowle had recorded 260-4 in 47 overs. Green’s reply stumbled when Radford was caught and bowled by Ben Brookes for seven runs.

Brookes also dismissed Sam Cheshire (2) before Green rallied. Ethan Holmes (20) and Lamb (26) were settling in but play was stopped for an hour and Green were given a revised total for victory.

Despite runs for Lee Tyrell (35) and Sutton (26), Green completed their 30 overs on 163-8.

The captain said: “There are a lot of areas to be improved in little ways.

"We didn’t bowl that well and Knowle made a good start with the bat.

"When the rain came down again we lost an hour batting.

“It meant we had to score something like 10 runs an over to win the game which was not going to be easy.”

Green entertain Walmsley at home on Saturday in the league (noon start).