HIMLEY CC are facing a crucial Bank Holiday weekend as they bid to secure their Birmingham Premier League status.

The Stourbridge Road outfit head to relegation threatened Bromsgrove on Saturday (noon) before entertaining Moseley on Monday still looking to reverse a terrible run of form that has seen them fall from the title race to a relegation battle.

Victory over 11th placed Bromsgrove, who sit two places and 20 points below Himley, would almost ensure survival but defeat would see them dragged further into the mire.

Captain Greg Wright admitted defeat on Saturday is not an option.

He said: “There’s not much point hiding away from the fact of how big this game is, I think both sides will realise that.

“We are not playing particularly bad cricket, there have been a few things which have not gone our way but we just have to keep believing and that should change.”

On Saturday Himley were beaten by seven wickets at Kidderminster Victoria, their sixth defeat in eight games.

After losing the toss and being asked to bat, Himley got off to the worst possible start when Ted Baylis bowled Danny Cox in the first over for a duck.

Fellow opener Chris Tranter dug in to hit 41, before a good stand of 88 between Dave Bassett and Greg Wright restored Himley’s confidence.

But Bassett’s dismissal for 56 by home skipper Jonathan Wright saw wickets start to tumble, Nitesh Patel and Michael Hill failing to make telling contributions before Wright eventually fell for 57.

Himley finished with 213, with Wright claiming 6-49.

In response the home side were always in control, winning with two overs to spare, Matt Pardoe top scoring with 84.

Stuart Wedge took 3-66 for Himley.

Wright said: “We had set ourselves up really and were well on course for scoring around 250 but we collapsed and ended up 20 or so runs short.

“You have to play some pretty poor cricket for that to happen.

“We then bowled and fielded pretty well but they batted well.

“At the minute it seems if we make the slightest mistake it gets punished, that always seems to be the way when you’re on a bad run.”

Wright is hoping his side’s fortunes will change for the better on Saturday - starting with the toss, which his side have lost on the majority of occasions this season.

The skipper believes being asked to bat first on damp pitches has also played a part in Himley’s loss of form.

He added: “With the earlier starts this season the toss has become more important.

“There is still a lot of dew on the ground, wickets are more conducive to seam bowling and it’s tough to see off the new ball.

“There is not much you can do about the toss, it’s a 50/50 chance and we just need to catch a break.

“Hopefully on Saturday we can win the toss, put them in and reduce them to a total we can chase.

“If not, we can at least make sure the game is safe.”