ASTWOOD Bank captain Steve Adshead was laid low with illness before last Saturday’s four-wicket defeat to Handsworth.

The big-hitting skipper, who had scored 200 last week, was ruled out by a combination of a bad knee and a fever.

After being checked out by doctors, he ended up in the Alexandra Hospital and could face a spell on the sidelines.

He said: “My knee hurt for about 10 days but a fever also came down on Saturday and I had to pull out of the game.

“It could be a joint infection so at the moment I am in hospital and am not sure when I will be discharged.”

Meanwhile, Bank went down in a low-scoring clash in Birmingham where both teams struggled on a bowler-friendly wicket.

Astwood won the toss and decided to bat but were bowled out for 84 in 40.2 overs as Handsworth bowlers Kennick Smith (5-23) and Bevon Brown (4-12) cashed in.

The visitors’ bowlers did their best to salvage a difficult situation, with Jake Price (3-15) and Dan Taylor (3-30) scaring the hosts who limped to 88-6 in reply.

Adshead said: “Talking to the lads, I don’t think it was the best wicket and you can see from the scores.

“If we had scored 50 more runs then we would have had a good chance of winning.”

Bank host Brewood on Saturday in Birmingham League Division Three.