ASTWOOD BANK are all but mathematically certain to finish bottom of Birmingham League Division Two after suffering two defeats over the bank holiday.
There was no doubting Bank’s efforts to try and end what has been a miserable campaign on a high but they were unable to prevent their league losses rising to 13.
On Saturday a superb unbeaten 145 from Rana Hassan, from 148 balls, and 58 from Attiq Chishti, who added 114 for the third wicket with Hassan, eased promotion-chasing visitors Penkridge to 263-4 from 50 overs.
The home side responded with 213 all out, chasing a revised target of 257 from 47 overs. Pete Alexander hit 84 for Bank and Nihal Shilar took 5-27 for Penkridge.
Two days later Joel Haslam took 4-11 off 7.5 overs and Dan Taylor 4-27 off ten as Bank dismissed hosts Attock for just 127 inside 40 overs.
However, this total still proved to be sufficient as Astwood Bank snatched defeat from the jaws of victory, collapsing from 91-3 to be bowled out for 111.
Samyr Nawaz did the bulk of the damage with 5-20. Steve Adshead made 42 for the visitors.
Astwood Bank visit Wombourne on Saturday.
