STOURBRIDGE clung on to their unbeaten run by holding out for a losing draw at Handsworth.

Handsworth put themselves in a strong position against the league leaders by scoring 357-4 off 55 overs before the home side got themselves out of jail as the tail dug in.

Renrick Hooper's unbeaten 167 has Stour reeling after the visitors had won the toss and chose to bat at the War Memorial Ground.

The Amblecote side faced their first outright defeat of the season as they crumbled to 85-4. Paceman Winston Lewis took the wicket of Jujhar Johal (5), Matt Bradley (17), Harshad Patel (21) and the prized wicket of former Handsworth skipper Marvarick Perry.

AS the run rate climbed hopes of Stour victory faded despite the 84 partnership between Dwayne Crossgill and Nathan Crudeli. The fight back was ended when Crossgill was out caught in the covers for 43 off Bevon Brown.

Crudeli and number eight batsman Jitesh Jivan-Patel progressed the score from 169 to 225-7 when Crudeli fell.

Jivan- Patel went on to score 67 when he was run out off the final delivery but he had helped Stour secure a losing draw with only the last wicket intact.

Stour will look to consolidate their lead at the top of Birmingham and District League Division Three when they hosts Milford Hall this Saturday (noon start).