UNHAPPY Bromsgrove skipper Mark Evenson accused his players of producing schoolboy cricket after they lost out by two wickets against Bridgnorth in Birmingham League Division One.

Evenson said: "We just went to sleep for 10 to 15 overs when we were batting and that consequently put pressure on the middle order.

"We went from block, block block to crash, bang wallop."

Opening bats Yogesh Malhotra with 32 and Jayden Levitt on 39 got themselves tied down, especially against the nagging line and length bowling from Bridgnorth's David Exall who proved hard to score off as he claimed three for 31 from his 17 over spell.

But Evenson insisted: "It wasn't just about the batting. We were often settling for one run when we should have been pushing for two.

"As a result, it took us until the 32nd over before we brought up the 100."

Ryan Pedley with 43 and Lewis Cordes on 35 tried to push the score along, but both got out within the space of three balls.

It meant Bromsgrove were finally removed for 193 in the 53rd over - a target Bridgnorth chased down to reach a winning 196 for eight.

Simon Gregory led the charge with 72 while Exall continued to torment Bromsgrove with 69 not out, the pair putting on 114 for the fourth wicket.

Evenson added: "We dropped Exhall when he was on 30 and Gregory on 38. In total, we dropped five catches. It was one of those games where you couldn't afford to give people a second opportunity.

"In the end we were 30 to 40 runs short but it was our own fault because we got ourselves into a rut when batting. You just kept waiting for someone to play a shot in anger - but it never happened."

Experienced seam bowler Gareth Williams did his best to try and claw the game back by taking four for 53 from 16.4 overs having had Bridgnorth at 31 for three at one stage.

Bromsgrove should be boosted by the return of Ash Newfield when they travel to Smethwick on Saturday.