STOURBRIDGE’S hopes of promotion took a big dent this weekend after Astwood Bank secured a seven wicket victory.

At the half way point of the season, the result has also changed the make-up of the Birmingham and District League Division Three. Stour slip down to fourth and Astwood zoom up into first spot with a 13 point margin.

Stour batted first and went past the double hundred thanks to opener Harshad Patel (48), and eighth wicket of 71 off 60 balls between Jade Richter (59) and Jitesh Jivan-Patel (30 n/o).

Stour made a useful start with a run rate of five runs an over but the introduction of Jake Price saw the run rate dip to three. His first spell of six overs cost just two runs with a wicket. Rickter and Jivan-Patel's knocks upped the rate to 4.3, with Price's 11 over spell costing 19 runs.

Stour put the home side under pressure taking the wickets of opener Alex Robinson (4) run out, Tom Pedley (11) LBW to Rickter and the prolific Sam Thomas (18) bowled by Richter.

The third wicket fell on 88 in the 18th over. Skipper Steve Adshead and number four Tom Underhill batted through to victory both scoring hundred each.

Innings that contained 25 fours and eight sixes where assisted by a short boundary and a slope, but Astwood Bank made the most of five dropped catches courtesy of Stour’s poor fielding.

Stour are down to play Himley at home tonight (6.15pm) before hosting Streetly at the War Memorial Ground this Saturday (noon start).