SKIPPER Mark Evenson believes Bromsgrove are slowly heading in the right direction after salvaging a losing draw against Birmingham League Division One leaders Kidderminster.
Bromsgrove lost the toss and were forced to bowl on a good track where Kidderminster would have been looking for a 280-plus score.
Worcestershire ace Ben Twohig led the charge, crashing 93 off 129 balls before departing with the hosts at 205-7.
Some superb bowling from Alex Wilkinson, who returned with 5-52, helped limit the Kidderminster run rate and was ably supported by Evenson (2-50) and Jack Taylor (51).
Kidderminster were eventually all out for 232 after 54 overs.
Bromsgrove opener Lewis Cordes anchored the visitors’ innings with an unbeaten 79 off 149 balls but nobody could stick around with him long enough to put the Boars into contention.
The ninth-wicket partnership between Cordes and Evenson (9no) held firm to guide Bromsgrove to 190-8 and eight points for the losing draw.
“To take points off the league leaders was a monumental effort from the lads,” said Evenson.
“To bowl them out for 230 was fantastic but I am a little disappointed we could not chase that down.
“When we were getting into good positions we started losing wickets and that has been the story of the season so far.
“In most games we have been one or two partnerships away from victory and if someone had stuck around with Lewis longer we may have won the game.
“However, we are slowly heading in the right direction and if we can be in the top five or six heading into our favoured win/lose format I am confident we can end the season where we want to be.”
Bromsgrove now turn their attentions to Saturday’s trip to Leamington who sit third-from-bottom in the table.
Evenson will be without the injured Ashley Newfield but is boosted by the availability of Warwickshire’s Aaron Thomason.
“On paper it’s one of those games we should be winning but the game is not played on paper,” said Evenson.
“Leamington are getting among the runs so it’s going to be tough but the weather is going to be nice once again so if we can come away with 20 or 24 points that would be great.
“Saturday provides us with a great opportunity to put some breathing space between ourselves and the bottom two.”
