MIDDLESEX PREMIER LEAGUE Richmond 266-4 (46 overs) Shep Bush 145-7 (46 overs) Richmond (4pts) gained a winning draw over Bush (1pt)

THE baptism of fire that's burned Bush batsmen since they joined the big-boys league got ever hotter on Saturday.

Not since the opening fixture has the newly-promoted side got beyond 150 - and they were indebted to a stonewall match-saver from Sam Dishon to survive this game.

His 37 not out, along with De la Rey Terreblanche's 44, which included six fours and a six, was the dab of glue that held the innings together after no one but Will Speer got to double figures.

Captain Ed Reynolds must have feared the worst when Bush slumped to 13-4, but then Sam got the club act together, with Speer's cameo of 28 warding off defeat.

Earlier, Amit Suman trapped Steve Ball with the Richmond innings on one - but a 144 second-wicket partnership between Steve Price (92) and Kevin Barrett (73) made the Bush task uphill from there on.