IT was a captain's knock from Ryan Tongue last weekend as his quickfire 97 from 91 balls helped Barnards Green to a draw at Shrewsbury. 

Tongue hit nine 4s and four 6s in his brilliant innings as the Green managed 183/7 from their 36 overs in what became a reduced-overs contest after a delayed start. 

The hosts then fell nine runs short in their chase from their 36 overs, with Green's Jon Dovey taking 5-38 for the visitors to reduce them to 178/9. 

Shrewsbury took eight points from the game, whilst Green took 16. The result takes them into eighth place in the Birmingham & District Premier Cricket League Division One table. 

Having lost the toss, Green were put into bat and openers Tongue and Dan Holland put on 67 for the first wicket, with the skipper putting on the majority of those runs himself. 

Holland was then caught by George Garrett off Luke Thornton for 22, bringing Rehaan Edavalath to the crease. 

He only managed 10 before also falling to the bowling of Thornton and the likes of Ollie Rogoff (18), Phil Harris (16) also struggled to add much to the score. 

But in Tongue, the runs and boundaries kept coming as the opener picked off the Shrewsbury bowlers before eventually falling to Thornton.

Max Bentley (0) went for a golden duck and Ashlea Brewer went for 2 as the Green's innings ended on 183/7. 

In response, the home side's opening pair of George Hargrave and Will Parton also started well, putting on 54 before they both fell to Dovey, as did number three Peter Clark.

Rhodri Evans (16), Zane Beatie (13), Matthew Swift (1) and Thornton (8) were all dismissed as Dovey and Max Bentley continued to cause damage. 

Green were on target to wrap up the winnings and complete the win before George Garrett's 27 not-out, as he managed to carry his side to the close for a draw.