EASTNOR captain Jabran Khalid is confident his side will stay in Birmingham & District Premier League Division Three despite throwing away winning positions in their last two games.

The villagers were in control against both Whitchurch and Fordhouses, but fell short on each occasion.

Four teams will drop out of the division, with Eastnor currently occupying the last relegation spot.

"This is probably one of the toughest decisions anyone in the cricket leagues because four teams go down," said Khalid.

"We know we need to grind out points and get some momentum going.

"As soon as we win a couple of games, we'll push on from there.

"I'm confident though if we get a settled squad out that we will start pushing up the table.

"We've got to take the positives from these games.

"Three or four batters perhaps just need to look at themselves and start contributing to the team, but I think we'll be alright."

Batsman Tariq Jamil admits the way Eastnor's middle order has collapsed in recent games is a concern.

"We need to work on out middle order and make sure we're handling the situation well," said Jamil.

"We needed the win [against Fordhouses] and, when we were six down, we were in control of the game, but suddenly we just lost wickets, so it's something we need to work on now.

"It doesn't matter if they're top of the league or not, we need to pick our game up.

"You have to make sure that you plan for a top four finish and you don't get into that zone.

"Recently, there was a five point difference between sixth and the teams in the bottom four, so we have to make sure that we win games."

Eastnor lost 13 players following relegation from Division Two and Jamil admits it has put more pressure on the current players.

"We are also looking for new players who would love to play for us as well," added Jamil.

"It is difficult sometimes when you drop down a division when you lose players

"All the batsmen just need to calm themselves down and play a sensible game."

Fordhouses elected to bat after winning the toss.

Opener Niall Cooper went for eight after being trapped lbw by Shahid Ahmed before Shoaib Akhtar departed for 20.

All of Eastnor's leading bowlers performed well and shared the wickets.

Ahmed and Atiq Ur Rehman both took three, while Khalid snapped up two.

Fordhouses were bowled out for 151, but the 30 runs added by Aatif Ali, batting at number 11, ended up being crucial.

The dramatic end to the game did not look like being on the cards when Eastnor made 56 before Khalid went for 37 off 63 balls.

Jamil then went for a duck before Anees Tariq, who only made 19 off 97 balls, was the third wicket to fall.

Chris Guest then trapped Ahmed to leave Eastnor still in a comfortable position at 96-4.

But when Mahaaz Ahmed and Arshad Hussain went cheaply to leave Eastnor on 100-6, nerves started to set in.

Some fine hitting by Ur Rehman added some crucial runs for Eastnor and, even though Faisal Khalid went for just six off 22 balls, the home side were still odds-on favourites to win the game.

But when Dawud Ahmed was run out going for a single that was never there, the momentum swung back in favour of the away side.

The crucial wicket was then snapped up when Ali clean bowled Ur Rehman for 50, with Ruhan Pretorious quickly removing Raheel Lone to complete a remarkable 13-run victory.