Bromsgrove 151 all out Aston Unity 153-4

Bromsgrove lost by six wickets

BROMSGROVE slipped into the bottom two of the Birmingham and District League Division One as they crashed to defeat in a key relegation clash on Saturday.

The Boars' seventh defeat of the season ensured that they slid into the bottom two for the first time all summer.

Once again Bromsgrove's inability with the bat came to the fore.

With both sides equal on points before Saturday Bromsgrove captain Nick Davies was well aware that the clash would be vital.

However, defeat has left the Boars stuck firmly in a relegation battle.

Davies won the toss and decided to bat first, but this decision seemed to backfire on him as David Allspop dismissed him for a duck.

Jordan Rose (56) did his best to keep the runs flowing, before Allsop dismissed him, but the wickets tumbled around him.

Nick Reade (11) and Julian Court (11) were both removed by Rehman, while Mark Evenson (0), John Duffy (2) and Steve Hamilton (3) were out cheaply.

Kish Patel (21) added some steel to the tail end before Rehman removed him as Bromsgrove fell short on 151.

Nick Husbands though made an early breakthrough to give his side hope when he bowled out Andy Stevenson (10).

However, after Davies had dismissed Adam Nicholas (4), Perkins (48) and Mohammed Ishtiaq (63) soon put Aston in control.

Patel removed Perkins and Sean Jackson dismissed Ishtiaq, but Phipps (14) steered his side to a comfortable victory and condemned Bromsgrove to a demoralising defeat.

Husbands was the most effective of Bromsgrove's bowlers, taking 1-26 in ten overs.

Davies took the positives from a confidence sapping loss.

He said: "I don't want to totally criticise the players as they were some good points.

"Jordan batted very well for his half century and we bowled quite well.

"I thought it was important to get some runs on the board so I decided to bat first, it may have been a mistake considering what happened.

"But we need to stay together and remain confident if we are going to get out of trouble."