HIMLEY Cricket Club captain Greg Wright praised his team’s effort after an agonising penultimate ball derby defeat to Wolverhampton in their Birmingham Premier League opener.

After being bowled out for 163 off 55 overs at Stourbridge Road, Himley battled back bravely to set up a thrilling climax as Stuart Wedge (3-49) and Tim Heap (5-40) ripped through the visitors’ top order.

When Wedge removed Chris Russell for the ninth wicket the scores were level with just two balls remaining. Wolverhampton number 11 Jack Snape then showed a cool head to score the winning single off the very next delivery as the visitors edged home with a wicket and a ball to spare.

Despite the defeat Wright, who top scored for Himley with 52, believes there were many positives to take from the display.

He said: “We were probably about 15 runs short in the end with what we scored but I really couldn’t fault the attitude of my players, they battled and fought superbly.

“It’s a disappointing start, we have been batting well as a team in warm-up games but we couldn’t replicate that on Saturday, as long as we learn from the batting display I’m sure we will be fine.”

Himley bounced back to winning ways on Monday by beating Old Hill to clinch the much-delayed 2008 Staffordshire Cup final which was held over from last season due to poor weather.

Scoring 243-4 off their 45 overs thanks to 66 from Wright and 46 from Nitesh Patel, the visitors dismissed their opponents for 164, Wedge again starring with the ball as he took 4-18.

Wright now takes his side to face Leamington Spa in the league on Saturday but will be without star bowler Heap who is attending a family engagement.

Himley could be boosted by the introduction of overseas player Saurabh Sehgal who expects to have his work visa ratified by the end of the week.

The Indian left-arm spinner has been signed after last year’s star player TP Singh was unable to acquire a visa.

Wright said his side will travel to Warwickshire with the memory of last year’s horror show at the Royal town – they were skittled out for 133 and lost by 15 runs – still fresh in the mind.

He said: “We had a dreadful time at Leamington last year, we are really keen to win and put the bad memories to bed.

“Once again it will be a tough trip but we will give it our best shot.”