BROMSGROVE'S hopes of a top two finish suffered a set back when they lost by six wickets to Barnards Green on Saturday in the Birmingham and District Division One.

The Boars were out gunned by their rivals big hitting batsmen Andrew Curtis and Mark Hardinges.

Captain Mark Evenson had won the toss and elected to bat first and they made 243-6 in 55 overs.

Opening batsman Ashley Newdick struck 75 runs before being ran out, while Jayden Levitt hit 54.

But Barnards were put on course for their first win since May 31 in the league by opening batsman Curtis, who scored 104 runs off 149 balls before he was bowled by Alex Wilkinson.

While George Rhodes (17), Alex Hepburn (0) and Alex Milton (0) did not make an impact, former Gloucester and Essex all-rounder Hardinges smashed 88 runs off 73 deliveries as Green reached 246-4 in the 50th over.

James Ganderton (2-47) was the Boars' most effective bowler.

Evenson said: "Sometimes you have to put your hands up and say you were beaten by a better side on the day.

"We made a decent score but it was probably 20 to 30 runs short.

"But overall I wasn't unhappy with the performance."

Bromsgrove are now fourth in the table, 57 points behind leaders Ombersley.

They now tackle Shifnal away on Saturday (1pm start), a side embroiled in a relegation battle.

It is also the return of the win or lose One Day International format.

Bromsgrove enjoyed the system at the start of the season, beating Harborne and Wolverhampton but had their three other matches rained off.

Evenson said: "We are a result side, we often win or lose and don't do much else.

"We enjoyed the ODI format at the start of the season despite all the rain and we've still got all the same players so we're looking forward to it.

"But we'll have a hard game against Shifnal, they're fighting at the other end of the table."