Kidderminster Victoria

The firsts slipped up with a losing draw at home to Water Orton in Division One on Saturday but bounced back to see off Stafford on Monday.

Both games produced heroes for different reasons with Ted Baylis claiming a brilliant hat-trick against Water Orton and Divan van Wyk hitting a superb 143 not out at Stafford.

Bayliss's bowling should have put KVCC on the road to victory over Water Orton on Saturday as they restricted their Warwickshire opponents to 210.

His hat-trick arrived towards the end of the Water Orton innings when two opponents were caught off his bowling either side of him trapping another to generate an electric atmosphere at Chester Road.

Craig Jennings also weighed in with 4-54, with Baylis finishing on 3-36, Marc Derrick claiming 2-52, and skipper Jonathan Wright 1-42. But, just as they had done in 2003, KVCC failed to reach a seemingly easy target, despite having an extra four overs having bowled the visitors out in 51.

Openers Wright and Mansell steradily put on 88 for the first wicket when the skipper was caught on 56. Mansell soon followed with Van Wyk also falling to the same bowler shortly afterwards.

Now 107-3 in the 37th over, KVCC's impetus was beginnig to fade and despite a gritty half century from Craig Wood they eventually ran out of steam.

KVCC ran their visitors close and got to the stage when Craig Jennings and Tom Sheriff required eight runs from the final two overs, but the opposition bowling was too good as the Chester Road men closed on 207-8.

Result: KVCC v Water Orton. Water Orton 210, KVCC 207-8 Match drawn Water Orton 14 pts KVCC 9.

KVCC recovered to win in convincing style by 82 runs when they travelled to Stratford Upon Avon on Monday.

For the first time this season, captain Wright lost the toss and was invited to bat on a good pitch, although he must have thought it was not to be his day after being dismissed for a duck.

Overseas player van Wyk came to the crease and seized the moment as KVCC took control of the game.

Although Sean Lloyd was soon out after a belligerent knock of 20, this enabled Wood to form an impressive partnership with van Wyk.

The South African progressed to a magnificent century with Wood hitting his second 50 of the weekend.

When Wood departed for a well-hit 56, the visitors lost two quick wickets in the pursuit of quick runs but Nigel Davenport added to the entertainment with 26.

The innings closed leaving van Wyk unbeaten on 143 not out in a total of 274-5.

Stratford wickets began to fall at regular intervals as the home side buckled under the relentless pressure from KVCC's bowlers with Davenport and Wright sharing the early scalps.

The ever-reliable Baylis came back to finish the match and his 3-50 helped KVCC secure a maximum points win.

Result: Stratford v KVCC.

KVCC 274-5, Stratford 172-10.

KVCC win. KVCC 24 pts, Stratford 4.

Second-placed KVCC now face fellow-highfliers Harborne at Chester Road on Saturday at 1pm.

l Kidderminster Victoria seconds recorded an eight-wicket win at West Bromwich Dartmouth to go second, two points behind leaders Old Hill, in the 2nd XI Premier Division.

The bowling of Kelvin Barrett (5-39), and Warren Irvine (3-59) gave the home side little chance to build a big score.

Kidderminster batsmen Steve Ralph (79 not out) and Andy Morley (57 not out) saw them secore a comfortable win.

Result: West Bromwich Dartmouth 2nd XI 159, KVCC 2nd XI 163-2. KVCC won by eight wickets (20pts).

They travel to Harborne at 1.30pm on Saturday.