A SHOCKING batting performance plunged Bromsgrove back into the Birmingham Cricket League Division One relegation battle as they sank to a seven-wicket defeat against Worcestershire rivals Stourbridge.

Bromsgrove were asked to bat on what appeared to be a good batting track but the early loss of Nick Davies adjudged caught at short leg of the bowling of Shahid sparked a catastrophic collapse to 14-6, and they later slipped to 51-9 despite the efforts of Jason Vaughan-Davies (16) and debutant Lee Mortlock (15). A last-wicket stand of 48 between skipper Nick Husbands (28) and Jamie Campbell (16no) at least lifted the score to 99.

A double strike by paceman Adrian Field briefly gave Bromsgrove hope but Stourbridge had few problems in getting home.