ANDREW SUTTON hopes Barnt Green can push on from their Birmingham League Premier Division opening-day victory when they entertain Kenilworth Wardens this weekend.
The Cherry Hill Road side play their first home game of the season tomorrow (Saturday) on the back of a fine six-wicket win over former champions Shrewsbury.
Green were indebted to the bowling of Warwickshire leg spinner Joshua Poysden last Saturday as he claimed five wickets for seven runs to hustle out the 2015 league winners for 54.
In reply, Sutton’s side reached 55-4 to claim the victory after 21.2 overs to get their season off to a flying start.
But ahead of the clash with Wardens, Sutton is waiting on the availability of Poysden and is expected to be without former Walsall seam bowler Ben Lad-Gibbon who has a hamstring injury.
However, the Green skipper is confident there is enough quality in the squad to get another positive result.
“If we are without Joshua then it gives the chance for somebody else to step in and prove themselves,” he said.
“I’ve said it before but our target right now is to reach the 180 points and then once we get past that point we can start thinking about silverware.
“If we keep winning games we will get to that target sooner but Kenilworth are going to be a tough side.
“They lost their opening game so their captain will be wanting a reaction but we are brimming with confidence so hopefully we can carry on the momentum from the win at Shrewsbury.”
Shrewsbury were put into bat after losing the toss and Green’s bowlers wasted little time in skittling out their opponents for a paltry 54 with Edward Barnard (21 not out) the only player to reach double figures.
Alexander Woods (2-18) and Sutton (3-17) got the ball rolling before Poysden came in to remove Shrewsbury’s final five batsmen.
The visitors then steadily knocked off the runs to secure victory in the 22nd over as James Psarakis (13) and Matthew Lamb (16) hit double figures.
“We knew it was going to be a tough game because Shrewsbury fielded a full-strength side and we had a few faces missing,” Sutton said.
“After winning the toss we stuck them in to bat and both myself and Alex bowled well with the new ball to put Shrewsbury under pressure.
“But then Josh has came in and weaved his magic with the ball, put it in the right areas and picked up five wickets.”
