ASTWOOD Bank missed a chance to ease their relegation worries in Birmingham League Division Three after suffering a 30 run defeat to mid-table outfit Worcester.

The hosts won the toss and put in Bank to field first and they posted 216 all out in 47 overs.

Tight bowling early on had restricted Worcester to 93-4, before middle order men Fabian Allen (65) and Mohammed Adeel (51) gave Worcester a lift.

Michael Desmond and Andrzej Jagielski took three wickets apiece.

But with a reasonable target of 217 for victory, no one in the Astwood batting order really managing a big score.

Thomas Harris (25), Tom Pedley (23) and Andrew Alexander (21) top scoring as they were dismissed for 176.

Defeat means Astwood remain third from bottom with five games to go, with four teams to go down.

Captain Steve Adshead said: "There were some pleasing aspects.

"We bowled well and once we got the two guys who scored half centuries out we bowled Worcester out for a good score.

"But we're low on confidence at the moment and unfortunately none of us were able to go and get a big score.

"This was a disappointing game to lose because a win over Worcester would have dragged them into the relegation battle.

"But we're still confident we can get ourselves out of this situation."

Astwood take on fifth-placed Streetly at home this weekend (noon start).

Adshead also backed himself and the rest of the team to start scoring runs.

He said: "The level I have played at I know players go through periods like this and I am confident I will still starting scoring runs."