BROMSGROVE’S out-of-sorts season in Birmingham & District Premier Division Two took another hit last weekend following an agonising 20-run defeat at the hands of Wem.
In a rain-sodden encounter reduced to 32 overs each, Wem’s scored 202-5 but the St Godwalds Park hosts were set a revised target of 226 and they just fell short on 205-6.
It was a sixth defeat this season for Mark Evenson’s side, who sit in dangerous territory in tenth.
After winning the toss and batting, Wem openers Harry Chander (38) and Sam Peate (36) put on 64 runs for the first wicket, while Craig Heath (28) and Mohit Kale (72) added 69 runs for the third wicket.
Ashley Newfield (2-21) and Connor Smith (2-48) may have picked up useful dismissals, none more key than the former catching and bowling Wem’s top scorer Kale, but a mountain still lay ahead for Bromsgrove.
That task was made more difficult by the revised target score, and then losing opener Smith (0) with no runs scored.
The partnership of 116 between Jayden Levitt (58) and Newfield (54) was an inspired one, and gave the hosts a glimmer of hope until the latter’s dismissal in the 19th over.
Alex Milton (34) and Richard Kimberlin (18) aimed to keep Bromsgrove’s challenge going, but it was ultimately not enough.
On Saturday, the Boars take a trip to leaders Halesowen hoping to arrest a miserable run of five matches without victory.