Bromsgrove 141 all out

Harborne 142-1

Bromsgrove lost by nine wickets

RELEGATION fears returned to haunt Bromsgrove as Saturday's heavy defeat in the Birmingham and District League Division One saw them tumble towards the danger zone. BATTING COLLAPSE: Bromsgrove batsman Nick Edwards goes in search of runs in Saturday's defeat to Harborne.

The Boars slipped three places down the table to third from bottom to leave themselves firmly rooted in a relegation battle.

Captain Nick Davies admitted that the performance was not good enough.

He said: "We deserved to lose. We did not perform well in any department.

Batting, bowling and fielding were all terrible. We are now definitely in the middle of a relegation fight."

Bromsgrove went into the game with their confidence restored after defeating Stratford a week before.

But after a solid start a mid-table Harborne side blew them away.

Davies won the toss and decided his side should bat first. He and Nick Edwards (18) forged a 42 partnership, before Alistair Lyttle caught the New Zealander.

Jordan Rose came to the crease, but the wickets tumbled around him. Mark Thompson dismissed Davies for 20 runs as Bromsgrove's brittle batting order crumbled.

Once Rose (30) was caught by Thompson Bromsgrove collapsed to 141 all out in the 51st over.

The Boars' rivals wasted little time in over-taking the home side's total.

Stephen Moreton was an early victim when Edwards caught him off Davies' spin bowling, but Simon Gear (57 not out) and Bailey (57 not out) steered their side to a comfortable victory.

Mark Evenson was Bromsgrove's most economical bowler, conceding just five runs in his two overs.

Davies said: "It was the same problem that we have experienced all season.

"We were overconfident with the bat and selected poor shots.

"It meant we didn't give ourselves a chance of winning the game."

Bromsgrove face a must win game on Saturday away at Aston Unity (1pm start).

With both sides locked on the same points score at the bottom of the table Davies is well aware that a victory could make all the difference to Bromsgrove.

He said: "It's a big game for both sides.

"The division is so tight that a single win can make a big difference.

"So it's important that we pick ourselves up and win this game."

Worcestershire's Stephen Peters may be available for selection.