BARNT Green battled their way to a drawn contest with Wolverhampton in the Birmingham League Premier Division.

Asked to chase down an imposing Wolves total of 315 for five, the Green gave a good account of themselves in reaching 282 for seven at close.

It was a marked improvement with the bat as the Green were well placed at one stage to achieve their target.

Opening bat Jamie Harrison fell just five runs short of his century while Tom Brown made 43.

Green skipper Andy Sutton said: "We started our reply like a house on fire and at one stage we were 170 for one.

"When I went into bat with Matt Lamb we only wanted 6.5 to 7 runs per over with five wickets remaining but I managed to get myself run out and the chance seem to disappear from then.

"But to reach 282 was a real good effort.

"Had I won the toss, I would have definitely batted first and tried to do exactly what Wolverhampton did by setting an imposing total."

Wolves total was built around a second wicket partnership of 206 which was provided by Matt Kleinveldt who made 142 while former Worcestershire player Aneesh Kapil added 95.

Sutton revealed: "We dropped Kleinveldt twice and you just couldn't afford to do that on a flat wicket.

"But I was really pleased with the way my lads stuck to the task because Wolverhampton looked like reaching 350 at one stage."

One downside from the game was the fact that the Green's Australian overseas player James Psarakis managed to get himself run out for the fourth time in five games having made just five runs.

Sutton admitted: "On this occasion, everyone on our side thought he was in. Although it was a great piece of fielding, Wolves only offered a half-hearted appeal, so it was a real surprise to us when the decision was given.

"But this is a situation that James has to address. It's his running and his calling."

Barnt Green bid to bounce back into winning ways this Saturday when they entertain Dorridge at Cherry Hill Road.

The Green should be boosted by the return of their England Under-19 player Tom Banton and strike bowler Ben Ladd-Gibbon.

Sutton insisted: "On paper, we have a very good side."