HIMLEY are inching their way from the dropzone with just two matches left to play in the Birmingham League Division One.

Greg Wright’s side came up seven runs short of victory in another defeat, this time at home to Shifnal on Saturday afternoon.

Winning the toss and electing to field, Himley found it hard to contain the visitor’s opening pair of

Jack Edwards (48) and Steve Leach (98) as the duo reached a partnership century before Stuart Wedge (4-39) bowled Edwards for the first wicket.

Two wickets quickly followed with Wedge bowling both Ed Beard (7, caught by Wright) and Connor Dudley (6), leaving Shifnal on 127-3.

Leach was finally bowled by Chris Boroughs (2-46), but only after getting his side to 251-5, partly helped by partnerships with Ross Aucott (37) and Chad Brandwick (36). Shifnal finished up on 276 for 8.

Like the visitors, Himley got off to a good start, Oliver Westbury (60) and Wright (40) forming a partnership of 105 before the skipper was bowled by Dudley.

Callum Lea (66) set the Himley ship on their run chase, with Shehan Fernando (31) and Chris Boroughs (29) helping out the cause.

But it was not to be for the home side, who ended up coming agonisingly close, but lost out by six runs.

Despite the defeat, Wright knows how vital the seven bonus points will be in their relegation battle, the skipper said: “Our batting hasn’t been great all season due to one reason or another, but we let them get off to a good start.

“We bowled poorly and didn’t give ourselves enough of a chance with our fielding.

“It was a great chase and it was agonising to come up so close. On another day, if things went a bit different, maybe the game would have gone our way.”

Himley, who are third from bottom, 31 points from safety, now have only two games remaining to avoid dropping out of Birmingham League cricket due to next summer’s league reshuffle.

Wright added: “We need to stay positive and keep believing in how we’re playing. We need 10 points from our final games, but we will try our best to get all 20 on Saturday.”

Leamington will be the visitors to Himley (12pm start) this Saturday, before a final day trip to Seth Somers Park to face Halesowen next weekend.