ASTWOOD BANK remain in the Birmingham League Division Three top two after a weekend of mixed emotions in which the promotion picture appeared to become a little clearer.
Bank maintained the pressure on leaders Streetly with a routine eight-wicket home victory over Sentinel on Saturday which set them up nicely for Monday’s visit to the table-toppers.
However, Streetly proved too tough a nut for Bank to crack and a six-wicket defeat for Steve Adshead’s side leaves them 34 points off top spot with just three games to play.
On the plus side, Bank remain second, eight points above third placed Lichfield who surprisingly lost to relegated Worcester Nomads and 24 points above fourth placed Milford Hall.
On Saturday, Bank dismissed Sentinel for 162 as Tom Harris, Andrzej Jagielski, Ryan Blakemore and Dan Taylor all took two wickets apiece before 68 from Tom Pedley and an unbeaten 53 from Adshead eased the hosts to their target in the 35th over.
However, Bank were restricted to just 158-9 off their 50 overs against Streetly as Adshead top scored with 43 and Sagar Mangalorkar took 4-23.
A majestic unbeaten 101 from just 105 balls from Neil Curtis then eased the home side to victory in the 35th over despite two wickets apiece from Blakemore and Taylor.
Bank visit relegation-battling Brewood on Saturday.
