STOURBRIDGE suffered their first defeat of the season at Stratford-upon-Avon last Saturday.

Stour posted their highest first innings total of the current campaign but couldn't do enough to prevent their hosts from chasing down their 244 total last Saturday.

Skipper Josh Banks decided to bat first after winning the toss but saw his plans take an early blow when the experienced Harshad Patel was bowled for five in the second over by Mike Brown.

Alex Bingham and new arrival Jujhar Johal steadied the innings until Bingham ‎skied a delivery from Jonathan Gill when on 20.

A partnership between Zain Ul Hassan and Matt Bradley produced 74 off 72 balls as Stour added more runs.

Bradley was smartly stumped off Perry Derrick for 27 with the total on 171-4 with nine overs remaining before Stour lost Ul Hassan (74) in the closing stages.

The home side openers replied with a thumping stand of 94 off 18 overs. It was the spin of Dominic O' Reilly that provided the eventual break through when John Price was judged lbw when on 50.

The other opener, Rob West, was stumped by Matt Bradley for 47 from spinner Johal. ‎The visitors then managed to bag five wickets for 148 runs on a slow pitch.

However, number three David Baily and number six Adrian Witts resisted everything Stour could throw at them to guide Stratford to victory as Stour dropped to second in division three of the Birmingham and District League.

Banks said: "I thought it was a big toss to win and I was happy to have a bat early on. It looked like the pitch would deteriorate.

"I thought we did okay with the bat but we got complacent with the ball and with our fielding. We just thought things would happen for us and even though the spinners did well we just didn't do enough.

"You come away feeling like you could do more and it's disappointing to lose our first game. That said, if you'd have offered me our position at the start of the season I'd have ripped your arm off, so I'm not too worried.

"The important thing now is we respond well this weekend at Worcester Nomads (noon start). Hopefully we bounce back quickly with a win."