BARNT Green skipper Andy Sutton has told his top order batsmen to stand up and be counted following another early order collapse this week against bottom of the table Kidderminster.

The Green slumped to a 70 run reverse followed another disastrous start with the bat which saw them lose their first three wickets without a single run on the scoreboard.

Sutton pulled no punches this week when he said: "The batsmen need to start finding something, otherwise we'll be in trouble.

"We had a few stern words after the game with Kidderminster and we have to start improving. And I include myself in that."

The Green had made a great start with the ball when they put Kidderminster into bat and immediately reduced them to three for three.

Former Worcestershire player Neil Pinner and Nathan Round steadied the innings before promising George Hatfield hit top score of 59.

They helped Kidderminster to recover and reach 179 all out, Sutton himself proving pick of the Green bowling attack with figures of five for 46, although 16-year-old left arm off-spinner Jack Banton really caught the eye by claiming two for 28 off 17 successive overs.

But Sutton found himself upstaged in reply by Kidderminster's rising Worcestershire pace prospect Patrick Brown who produced a match winning spell of six for 25.

Sutton revealed: "Patrick is on a university scholarship with Worcester and has been working with coach Matt Mason.

"He bowled really quickly and made the ball move into the right hander.

"But we didn't help ourselves either. Ed Pollock was caught off the first ball of the innings and then our overseas player James Psarakis ran himself out for the third successive game.

"Matt Lamb then left an inswinging ball which knocked off the top of the bail.

"So from being in a strong position at half time, we found ourselves in trouble and eventually bowled out for 109.

"There was nothing wrong with the pitch, it was fine. Our defeat was simply down to a poor batting display. The top six have to do better."

On a brighter note, Barnt Green progressed to the fourth round of the National T20 competition with a compelling victory over Worcester side Old Elizabethans.

After restricting Elizabethans to 135 for six, Ed Pollock then plundered 89 runs off 42 balls as the Green coasted to victory with three overs to spare.

This Saturday, the Green travel to Walsall in the Birmingham League Premier Division.