Their tough new Birmingham Premier Division campaign continues at Walmley (Saturday, 1pm).

The Arlington Avenue men dug deep for eight points from a draw with Wolverhampton last week - a much improved showing on their opening day capitulation against champions Walsall.

But the young side will have to cope without the experience of skipper Rob Williams and former county star Neil Smith, both unavailable.

Chairman of cricket Clive Antrobus said: "We've not had the best of starts, but we expected it was going to be hard."

"We are a young side and our aim is to stay in the Premier Division. We have a talented team and the encouraging thing last week was the way we battled."

On Sunday Leamington entertain Himley in the National Knockout Cup, also at 1pm.

Leamington avoided defeat against a powerful Wolverhampton side at Arlington Avenue on Saturday.

Stung by the previous capitulation at Walsall, they hung on for a losing draw with last man Matt Van Poppel staying calm as he saw out the last five balls of the final over.

Skipper Williams won the toss and put Wolves into bat, three early successes providing plenty of optimism. But Bowyer (76) and Indian Test player Bahutule (75) turned the tide during a sparkling stand worth 160 as the visitors went in talented pursuit of a huge total.

Happily, the experienced Smith was re-introduced to the attack and two wickets in three balls prompted a transformation with Wolverhampton collapsing from 197-3 to 224 all out.

Smith's seamers claimed a healthy 13.3-2-29-4 return with opening bowler Faisal Irfan again taking the eye with a controlled 15-1-57-5 contribution including a superb leg-side stumping by Michael Balac to remove Lycett.

It quickly became obvious that the visiting bowlers were a potent force, Tom Lewis departing for a duck. Balac followed for 12 with the score on 31 and the first 25 overs realised just 49 runs.

Williams looked to be in good nick before falling leg before for 30 and Mark Lewis soon followed for a gritty 28.

Luke Radford and Chris Cheslin went cheaply as Bahutule's spin magic got to grips with the task in hand and although Lee Hopkins again showed admirable discipline with an inventive 30, Leamington were soon facing defeat.

But Irfan refused to buckle and he was unbeaten on a match-saving 32 at the close, with Leamington balanced precariously at 162-9, their eight points enough to take them off the bottom of the ultra-tough Premier Division.