BROMSGROVE’S batting fell short as they were dealt a two-wicket defeat by Dorridge in Birmingham League Division One.

That was despite the efforts of Worcestershire’s in-form Alexei Kervezee, who cracked a superb century, which still proved insufficient to save Bromsgrove.

Fresh from playing a starring role in Worcestershire’s impressive NatWest T20 Blast victory over Warwickshire the previous evening, Kervezee compiled 107.

Opening batsman Ashley Newfield added a further 49, but Bromsgrove found themselves bowled out for 214 with 7.4 overs still remaining.

Bromsgrove skipper Mark Evenson admitted: “It was criminal for us not to bat out all our overs. If we’d batted all our overs, I’m certain we would have gone onto win the game.

“Alexei is playing beautifully at the moment and all we needed to do was go with him and let him have as much of the strike as possible. But instead, there were some soft dismissals when we really should have gone onto to score around 240 to 250.”

Ashley Newfield went onto take five for 47 with his left arm spin when Dorridge replied.

But Dorridge’s innings was held together by opening bat Ali Ebad, who made 90, while in contrast to Bromsgrove’s innings, Dorridge’s tailenders wagged enough to see them over the line on 215 for eight with 11 balls to spare.

Evenson added: “We were all disappointed. With Alexei making a century and Ashley Newfield taking a five-for, we should have won the game.

“I thought we bowled and fielded really well, but we didn’t bat out all our overs and that’s what cost us in the end.”

Bromsgrove bid to bounce back this Saturday when they entertain Sutton Coldfield at St Godwalds Park, the visitors having been promoted to Division One this season and contain Warwickshire’s Aaron Thomason and former Bears wicketkeeper Pete McKay in the ranks. Bromsgrove will be without top order batsman Jayden Levitt, but Ryan Pedley returns.