BROMSGROVE Cricket Club's First XI finished the first half of the season bottom of the Birmingham and District Premier League Division One.

Failure to win on Saturday away to Stourbridge saw the town sink to the bottom for the first time this season, or in fact for many seasons.

Although the game was not lost, town should have beaten such limited opposition.

Fielding first, Bromsgrove began well with the two Nicks -- Davies and Husbands -- picking up a wicket each early on.

But then Australian Glenn Ashmead set about the bowling with ease, and together with Keiron Murphy (66) the pair took the score to 114 after just 23 overs.

When Ashmead departed, also for 66, Murphy took the role of the aggressor and took the score up to 142 off 40 overs.

At this stage Stourbridge had the opportunity to rattle up 280, but a tight line by Kish Patel (1-55) and aggressive bowling by Davies and Adrian Field at the end saw the homesters bowled out for 232.

Davies returned figures of five for 67.

Bromsgrove began brightly with Campbell (14) and Davies putting on 44 for the first wicket in just 11 overs.

The introduction of Murphy (six for 42) made it difficult for the visitors to score freely as the left arm seamer found bounce and movement from the pitch.

His steady flow of wickets restricted the scoring options.

Davies remained positive and notched up a half century, but when Bromsgrove slipped to 91 for five, another defeat was on the cards.

It was then down to Bromsgrove's extended batting line up to take the chances, and Patel (51) and Mark Evenson (45) did just that.

Exciting partnership

The pair batted superbly in the middle of the innings, forging an exciting 96 run partnership.

At 187 for five with ten overs remaining Bromsgrove looked set for an unlikely victory.

But the return of Murphy saw Evenson go with his first ball and then a needless run out was the downfall of Patel, leaving Bromsgrove a mountain to climb again.

The further loss of John Duffy for a duck meant that the town had to settle for a draw, and with nine wickets down that result was achieved.

Bromsgrove now have a further 11 matches in which to improve on their 2001 season.

With just one victory and a staggering six defeats they have it all to do. On Saturday they entertain Wellington (1pm start).

l Sunday saw the First XI travel to Kidderminster as they continued their good Sunday form.

Batting first, the town scored 237 with Jamie Campbell falling just short of 100 and Mark Bilbrough recording a half century. Youngster Mike Thurbon was amongst the wickets as Kidderminster fell away in the run chase.