A WOEFUL weekend for Bromsgrove Cricket Club First XI saw them slip to fourth in Birmingham and District division one and eliminated from the National Knockout.

Nick Husbands' side slumped to a 146-run defeated at Harborne last Saturday and went down by 22 runs at Banbury in the National Knockout regional semi-final.

At Harborne, Bromsgrove bowled first but could not find their usual discipline with only Nick Davies (2-32) keeping the run rate down as the hosts rattled up 253-8 in 55 overs.

Bromsgrove were confident going into bat, having won by eight wickets chasing the same score last season, but four quick wickets, including three to Kiwi pace man Lewis, made it a battle of survival.

Paul Duffy (48 not out) was the only batsman to resist the bowling but he could only watch as wickets fell around him.

The visitors were eventually bowled out for 104 in just 45 overs.

Sunday's National knockout regional last four clash at Banbury saw Bromsgrove again bowl first.

Husbands took two early wickets and Jamie Campbell returned figures of 4-16 off nine overs as the hosts were skittled out for just 116 in 43 overs.

Former England star Paul Taylor removed Simon Keyte early in reply before Duffy and Davies (31) took control.

But the loss of Duffy (4) and Campbell (15) sparked another collapse as new batsmen found it difficult to score runs.

The intensity started to increase on and off the pitch as Bromsgrove were finally bowled out for 96, still 22 runs short.

l Bromsgrove Sunday First XI suffered a 48-run home defeat to Stourbridge after making 202-9.