HIMLEY CC secured their Birmingham Premier League safety in resounding fashion with two thumping wins over the Bank Holiday weekend.

The Stourbridge Road side had not tasted victory since July 18, a run of form which saw them slide perilously close to the relegation trapdoor.

But any concerns were blasted away as they hammered fellow strugglers Bromsgrove by 96 runs on Saturday, before brushing aside Moseley by seven wickets on Monday.

The results saw them jump five places from ninth to fourth in the table and skipper Greg Wright believes mainitaining that position would represent a good achievement in what has been an injury hit campaign.

He said: “It was a fantastic weekend for us.

“We knew how big the games were and how much pressure we were under both as individuals and as a team. The lads responded magnificently.

“At the start of the season the aim was to finish in the top four, with the injuries and problems we’ve had to deal with if we go on to finish in the top half we should be very pleased with ourselves.”

After losing the toss and being asked to bat on a tricky pitch at Bromsgrove, Himley lost opener Danny Cox for nine but solid batting from Daniel Bassett (32) and Nitesh Patel (50) steadied matters.

Michael Hill then struck an unbeaten 30 as Himley reached 158-7 from their 55 overs.

The strength of that performance was shown in the home side’s response, as overseas spinner Saurahb Sehgal ran riot, taking 5-13 from 10.2 overs.

Chris Tranter also clinched 2-23 and Shafiq Ahmed took 2-4 as Bromsgrove were eventually skittled out for just 62.

Tranter, who has stepped into the bowling attack this season because of Tim Heap’s lenghty lay-off, then claimed 3-28 on Monday as Moseley were dismissed for just 81 at Stourbridge Road.

He then finished off his man-of-the-match performance with 25 as Himley reached their target, Cox hitting an unbeaten 32.

Wright said: “To get 158 on the wicket at Bromsgrove was a phenomenal achievement.

“We followed that up with a great bowling performance.”

On Tranter’s display, the skipper added: “Chris has answered the call every time he has been asked to bowl.

“Myself and coach had noticed he was swinging the ball during net sessions but I don’t think we expected him to bowl as well as he has.

“He has come up with the goods for us and that is why you want players like that in the team.”