OMBERSLEY fell agonisingly short against defending Birmingham League champions Shrewsbury last Saturday.

Simon Harwood attempted to mark his first-team debut in a blaze of glory but was caught on the boundary by Shrews-bury’s Tyler Ibbotson when going for six needed for victory off the last ball of the game.

Ombersley chairman Tim Oakley said: “We were cruising at 115-2 chasing down a Shrewsbury total of 176. Then the wheels fell off. We lost six wickets for nine runs in just seven overs and found ourselves at 124-8.

“Our skipper Arti Fiaz came in to join Simon, who asked Arti what they should do? Simon likes to give the ball a thump so Arti said, ‘go for it!’ “They put on around 40 runs before Arti got out but he told Simon to keep going. We needed six to win off the last ball but didn’t quite manage it.”

Earlier in the game, skipper Fiaz led from the front taking the first five Shrewsbury wickets to fall to finish with figures of 5-54 while Ollie Uffindall mopped up the lower order to claim 3-13.

Only opening bat Will Parton made any impression with 52.

Following the early loss of Jack Haynes in reply, Ombersley appeared well placed for victory as Liam Gwynne hit 30 while India wicketkeeper-batsman Uday Kaul added a further 34.

Ombersley then collapsed to the bowling of Henry Blofield, who took 4-34, while James Hulton-Harrap claimed 3-35.

Harwood’s late heroics proved in vain, falling for 27 after Fiaz had made 20, leaving the side five runs short on 171 all out.

Ombersley will find themselves heavily depleted when they travel to rock bottom Leamington on Saturday.

Brett D’Oliveira and Gareth Andrew are both on county duty with Worcestershire and Hampshire respectively, while Josh Dell is required by England Under-19s.

To make matters worse, Uday Kaul returned to India this week to start training with his Punjab state side.

Oakley admitted: “It leaves us a bit thin with the batting and only underlines the fact we haven’t been able to name the same side two weeks running.”

Meanwhile, the seconds defeated Halesowen by five wickets, with half-centuries for Ashley Damm and David Brazier.