HIMBLETON skipper Stuart Dickenson says they are missing out by small margins in their hunt for a first Worcestershire Cricket League Division Two win since promotion.
The games do not get any easier for the second-from-bottom villagers as they host leaders Bromyard on Saturday (1pm).
Himbleton lost by five wickets in a breathless game at Belbroughton last weekend after the hosts chased down a rain-reduced target of 239 in 45 overs.
Himbleton's 247-8 was built around a 110-run partnership between Ali Pretty (60) and Sean Jenkins (55) who batted sensibly on a slow wicket after opener Richard Sugden (47) set the foundations.
At 40 overs the Meadow Boys were well set at 180-2 but the loss of Pretty and Jenkins in three balls lost impetus.
Mike Rogers (37 not out) hit three successive sixes to drag the visitors to a competitive total.
Belbroughton were brutal at the start of their reply.
Skipper Ross Parker (67) carved his way to a rapid half-century finding the gaps with a mixture of skill and luck.
As half-chances went begging, the opening partnership raced to 95 in just nine overs.
A rain delay meant a revised total and Belbroughton made steady progress against a combative, probing attack.
Wickets fell steadily and Himbleton were always in the game thanks mainly to Rogers (2-30) who beat the outside edge on numerous occasions.
But Belbroughton’s middle order chipped away to see the hosts home with two overs to spare.
Captain Dickenson said: “That defeat was hard to take as I thought we’d played well enough to win.
"We probably left 20 or 30 runs out there when we batted, losing Ali and Sean together was a blow but they both batted superbly.
"Mike was magnificent with bat and ball. He’s such a key part of this team.
“I can’t knock the lads for effort — everyone’s giving everything.
"But we’re missing out by small margins in all of our games.
"We just need to find a way to turn these margins in our favour.”
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