CAPTAIN Paul Hewart has told his players their batting must improve or they will be relegated.

The Radcliffe side endured a nightmare weekend as they were beaten by 136 runs in the league on Saturday and lost by 179 runs in a cup tie on Sunday.

ELPM scored just 139 runs over the two games which has set the alarm bells ringing with Hewart as his side hovers perilously close to the bottom two relegation places.

They are third bottom on the same points as the team below them, Micklehurst, and in dire need of a change of form after four defeats in their last five matches in Greater Manchester League Division Two A.

They travel to Micklehurst on Saturday in a crunch game which could either ease the pressure a little or pile it on ELPM depending if they win or lose.

And Hewart has pinpointed batting as the key area after his side scored 100 runs in Saturday's defeat at Prestwich 2nds and 39 at home to Hollinwood 24 hours later.

"It was a disappointing weekend to say the least," said Hewart.

"After inserting Prestwich on a green track we again failed to take our chances.

"They probably shouldn’t have got more than 180-190 but managed to get to a well-above-par 236-6, Louis Birmingham the pick of the bowlers with 2-37 off 12 overs.

"In reply we made a paltry 100 all out with only Matthew Smalley and Matty Partington really troubling the scorers, getting 34 and 17 respectively.

"In the games we have won we have batted the majority or all of the 50 overs, and that’s what we need to return to doing if we want to remain in this league.

"The cup game on Sunday is one we want to forget. A few highlights from the first innings were Gavin Greaves, who finished with 4-46 from his 10 overs, and Si Carr 1-32 from 10.

"Hollinwood got off to a bit of a flyer but finished on 218 all out.

"That is normally a very achievable score on our smallish ground, but our reply got off to the worst start.

"Matty Partington was out for a duck which soon became 16-2 and 39 all out including six ducks.

"It was embarrassing. Again batting the overs is the key.

"Now the focus turns to Micklehurst away this Saturday and hopefully a much improved batting performance"