ECB MIDDX PREMIER LEAGUE Shepherd's Bush 129 all out (56.3 overs) Stanmore 131-3 (33 overs) Stanmore (10pts) beat Shepherd's Bush (1pt) by seven wickets

BUSH'S learning curve is about to snap under the strain unless they can start posting winning totals.

For the third week in a row, the newly-promoted team discovered there are very few loose balls in the top flight, and a score above 130 has been a task too tough for Ed Reynolds and his men.

The Bush captain and Sam Dishon were the only two who got anywhere near a decent score on

Saturday - and even then a combined 64 barely papered over the cracks.

"It's inexperience that's costing us," said Reynolds. "And while I'm not about to press any panic buttons, we're conscious of our low totals in the last three matches."

Mehuel Ashra was asked to make lightning strike twice and skittle out Stanmore for very little. But unlike last week, when Bush knocked over Brondesbury for 94 - there was no happy ending.

Reynolds added: "Another 100 and we could have asked them some serious questions - but in the end they won at a canter, and that worried me more."

Bush are eighth out of 11 teams, and are away to bottom club Richmond on Saturday.