HIMLEY CC captain Greg Wright believes injuries to key players has contributed to his side’s mid-season slump after they slipped to defeat against Kenilworth Wardens.

The loss was the Stourbridge Road outfit’s third reversal in four games and saw them slip to fifth in the Birmingham Premier League standings, now 52 points behind leaders Knowle and Dorridge.

Himley have had to play most of the season without star seamer Tim Heap who has been ruled out with a long-term groin injury, while experienced opening batsmen Harshad Patel has also been sidelined.

Wright believes the loss of such players has eventually taken its toll on his side’s form.

Wright said: “We have lost to three good teams and there is no disgrace in that.

“We are missing some key players, some of the youngsters stepped up against Leamington but we were unable to sustain it.

“The younger players are certainly getting the chance to perform but need to do it on a more consistent basis.”

After losing the toss and being asked to bat, Himley opener Daniel Bassett failed to trouble the scorers while Chris Tranter was dismissed for 16.

Wright then played steadily to score 40 from 88 balls before he was run out by Scott Stenning. Michael Hill hit an unbeaten 30 while Stuart Wedge scored 21 but wickets continued to tumble as Himley reached 155-7 from 55 overs.

Kenilworth openers Eian Marillier and Adam Smyth then smacked 48 from the first 6 overs as the visitors got their reply off to a flier.

Marillier was removed by Hill before Tranter had Smyth trapped LBW but an unbeaten 37 from James Ord helped steer Kenilworth home with just under 15 overs to spare.

Wright added: “We were not good enough with the bat, we were short of 20 runs and then we let them get off to a flier.

“After that we fought back pretty well with the ball but realistically the game was already behind us.”

Himley now face a trip to Walsall on Saturday (noon start). The reigning champions, who have won the league for the past three seasons, are experiencing problems of their own and slipped to eighth in the table following a five wicket defeat at Kidderminster last Saturday.

Wright believes the pressure is now off both teams, making this weekend’s game a potential cracker.

He said: “Walsall aren’t having the best of it but they still have some quality players.

“We are both looking to kick on, both of us need a couple of wins to make sure we are playing in this division next season.

“We have had some great games in the past and we know we have to work hard to take anything off them.”

n Himley will face Knowle and Dorride in the final of the Birmingham League qualifying tournament Cockspur Club Twenty20 Competition on Sunday.

Heavy rain brought a premature end to yesterday’s finals day at Himley, with the home side securing their place in the showdown by beating Kidderminster.

After their opponents made 89-9 from their 20 overs, Himley reached the target in just 13.2 over thanks to Dan Bassett (23), Nitesh Patel (22 not out), Chris Tranter (22) and Michael Hill (20 not out).

Earlier Knowle and Dorridge were declared winners on run rate against Walmley when heavy showers arrived.