THE season only gets relentlessly trickier for Stourbridge who despite posting their highest score of the term still lost out by eight wickets to Oswestry in Birmingham League Division Two.

Centuries from Harshad Patel and skipper Matt Bradley boosted hopes of a second win this season but that was soon scuppered by a first wicket partnership of 144 between Oswestry openers Warrick Fynn and Joe Carrasco.

Stour, who are anchored at the bottom of the table, need every point they can squeeze out to avoid the drop but soon lost the wickets of Alex Bingham for 6 and Josh Banks on 7, both falling to the pace of Jonathan Miles who had them caught behind by 'keeper Junaid Cassiem.

A recovery came with a stand of 54 between Patel and Tarryck Gabriel, which ended when Gabriel tried to square cut spinner Mark Robinson but edged it to the 'keeper for 31,

Matt Bradley joined Patel with the score on 93 in the 24th over, the pair aware of needing a target in excess of 250 on a dead batting track.

They took the total to 217 before Patel was stumped off Warrick Fynn for 105 off 152 balls, his innings comprising of 16 fours.

Matt Bradley then took charge accompanied by his brother Richard for the final burst, putting on 46 from 23 balls. Matt Bradley finished on 102 off 97 balls while Richard was 3 not out.

Fynn and Carrasco then produced a massive first wicket partnership in reply and only some superb Stourbridge ground fielding prevented them from romping home well before the 52nd over.

A superb diving catch on the boundary by Zain Ul Hassan removed Carrasco for 62.

Stourbridge were still in the game at this point as Oswestry required 119 off 100 balls but the short boundary was always going to be a threat - especially with Fynn now well set.

Fynn proceded to punish Stourbridge's bowling and remained not out on 153 from 158 balls, his innings included nine fours and seven sixes.

Stourbridge look to bounce back this Saturday when they entertain Halesowen in a local derby.