ASTWOOD Bank kept up the pressure in Birmingham League Division Three with a comfortable win at Brewood in a rain-hit game.

Bank were put into bat and soon made a competitive 176-6 in their 22 overs.

Captain Steve Adshead (34), Alex Robinson (37) and Tom Underhill (43) top scored.

Tight bowling from Andrzej Jagielski (1-25) and Bank’s bowling department ensured that the hosts were kept to 156-4.

Victory means Astwood, who are third in the table, can still overhaul Pershore and finish in the second promotion spot.

He said: “Winning by 20 runs in what was effectively a T20 game is a very comfortable margin.

“Full credit to the guys to get the game on after the rain, there were one or two muddy patches but they did a good job.

“Our score was a comfortable one and we bowled so tightly Brewood could not get going.”

Meanwhile, the skipper was relieved to find out that the illness which saw him admitted to the Alexandra Hospital was not a dangerous joint infection.

“The doctors ascertained it was nothing too serious so after a few days I left hospital and am being treated as an out patient,” said Adshead.

“It’s if it had been a joint infection it could have spread to my cartilage but thankfully it’s not that.”

With Alex Robinson absent for Saturday’s home clash against bottom side Whitchurch, Pete Alexander is set to take his place in the line-up after a good score for the seconds.

Astwood then tackle Lichfield away on Bank Holiday Monday (both games noon start).

“Whitchurch are bottom but they have one player who has scored a lot of runs and can win the game on his own, so we must be careful,” added the skipper.