Oswestry's hopes of making a late push for promotion from the Birmingham and District Premier Cricket League Division One were dealt a severe blow on Saturday when they crashed to an eight-wicket defeat at leaders Kidderminster, after being shot out for just 106 in 33 overs.

After their recent run of success, the Border Men, were little match for the leaders who look destined to return to the Premier Division at the first attempt.

Despite winning the toss, Oswestry found themselves in dreadful trouble as Joe Carrasco was dismissed for four while he was soon followed by Xavier Clarke, who was run out for five.

Skipper Robbie Clarke, who so often has been a talisman in this situation, could only make four while teenage all-round star and Roman Walker fell in quick succession, making just just five.

Only opener Warrick Fynn (22) and Alex Ramsay (14) showed any real resistance against the Kidderminster attack, which included Worcestershire first team bowler Pat Brown.

Fynn fell LBW to paceman Liam Watson, and it was Watson who also ended Ramsay’s innings with a fine piece of fielding.

It was left to former first team skipper, and left arm spinner Mark Robinson, making his first appearance of the season, to rescue any credibility for the score as he came in at number 10 to take the Oswestry total into 3 figures, top-scoring with an undefeated 23.

Pick of the bowlers for the Carpet men were Watson's 3-24 from seven overs and Chris Steele, who grabbed 3-25,l also from seven overs.

The home side had few alarms in reaching their target in just 15.4 overs. Matt Pardoe (30) and Ben Twohig (24) fell to Walker and Charlie Morris respectively, leaving Shameer Ahmed (26) not out and skipper Neil Pinner (21) not out to guide Kidderminster home.

Walker finished with figures of 1-29 from six overs while Morris grabbed 1-19 from two overs.

While this was always likely to be a challenging assignment for Robbie Clarke's side, the manner of defeat will have been disappointing. Six batsmen were cleaned bowled, and two others ran themselves out.

Clarke will be hoping for an improved performance from his team when they face second-to-bottom Brockhampton next Saturday, as the trap door threatens for the Herefordshire Side.

On Bank Holiday Monday, Oswestry will entertain old rivals Bridgnorth when the club will be holding its annual President's Day.

Meanwhile, in the Birmingham and District Premier Cricket League Division Two 2nd XI (North), Oswestry were edged out by 22 runs in a close clash at the Stonehouse Brewery Oval against Pelsall.

The visitors decided to take first use of the Morda Road batting surface and the Oswestry bowling attack would have been happy with restricting their visitors to just 200 on a decent batting surface.

The Oswestry reply got off to a flyer as opener Josh Darley scored 56 at the top of the innings but he seemed to be the glue which was holding their hopes together.

He was caught in dry dock by Jack Portsmouth off the bowling of Ryan Johnson and while the rest of the batting line-up made starts, Oswestry began to struggle as the middle-order struggled to score runs.

However, a late flurry of runs from the lower order gave Oswestry the opportunity for victory as both Oliver Roberts and Matthew Davies both scoring 15 and Floyd Owen scored 20.

However, they were dismissed for 178 to give Pelsall the win, with Portsmouth taking four wickets and three run outs in the innings.

Meanwhile on Sunday, the fourth XI picked up a solid seven-wicket win on the road at Bomere Heath's third XI in the Shropshire County Cricket League Sunday Division Two

Bowling first, Oswestry bowled out the 10 men of the home team for just 103, with Sam Hulme scoring 35.

In reply, opener Luke Jones scored 66 to steer his side to victory, but he retired not out to allow some teammates time out in the middle to seal the win by seven wickets.

On Saturday, the second XI will play Old Hill second XI at Morda Road for a 12.30pm and then head to Bridgnorth on Bank Holiday Monday.