Cannock 240-9 Bromsgrove 170 all out

Bromsgrove lose by 70 runs

CAPTAIN Nick Davies led the way with a century, but couldn't stop his side slipping to a crushing defeat in Saturday's basement sides battle.

Davies hit 105 as he tried to inspire the Boars to surpass Cannock's 240 for victory.

However, apart from Nick Edwards, the rest of the order failed to make an impact as Bromsgrove collapsed to 170.

Davies was furious at the batting order.

He said: "We were absolutely diabolical against Cannock.

"Almost all of the batsmen selected shots poorly.

"It was incredibly frustrating for me, as I was watching down the other end of the crease."

Bromsgrove went into the match in desperate need of a victory over bottom side Cannock, to kick start the team's attempt to climb out of the Birmingham and District League Division One's relegation zone.

Davies lost the toss and saw his side put into bowl on a dry batsmen friendly pitch.

The Staffordshire side took advantage of the conditions - racing to 91 in the first 15 overs.

Spinner Mark Bagley (5-73) though did made the crucial breakthrough, dismissing openers Revill (47) and Jones (40).

Kish Patel's (4-67) spin was also making an impact and he dismissed Haynes (57) to slow down Cannock's progress with the bat.

However, Wesson (17), Bulpitt (13) and Berg (14) added runs late on as Bromsgrove were set a mammoth 241 for victory.

Openers Davies (105) and New Zealander Nick Edwards (31) got Bromsgrove off to a strong start with the bat as they forged a 90 run first wicket partnership.

However, once Edwards was removed lbw by Bulpitt the Boars suffered an alarming collapse.

Julian Court (1), Nick Reade (2), John Duffy (2), Mark Evenson (8), Richard Hamilton (0), Bagley (12), Patel (4), Sean Jackson (0) and Nick Husbands (0) barely threatened Cannock's bowlers.

Davies admitted he disappointed with his side's overall performance.

He said: "We gave away too many runs at the start.

"We bowled well after that period, but they should never have reached that score.

"But we didn't give ourselves a chance batting.

"It was simply an incredibly inept performance."

The defeat also signals Bromsgrove's descent into a relegation battle in Division One.

The Boars are fourth from bottom, but only 19 points off basement boys Aston Unity.