SLOW bowlers Mark Mansell and Mandeep Singh combined to earn Kidderminster a crucial winning draw at home to Harborne in Birmingham League Division One.

With both clubs lying near the foot of the table, the town team needed to increase the points difference between the clubs.

And after being dismissed for 204, KCC kept Harborne 14 runs away from their total but could not bowl them all out.

The home team were put into bat after losing the toss for only the third time in 11 games.

It proved to be a good decision as KCC were reduced to 37-3 by the eighth over with Mansell bowled for 7 and fellow opener Steve Davies for 17.

Gurdeep Kandola was joined by Sean Lloyd but the skipper lasted just three balls before Masood claimed his third wicket.

Overseas player Singh joined Kandola to increase expectations after their good partnership at Kenilworth the previous week.

And they put on 78 before Singh (39) was out leg before and teenager Ted Baylis was introduced.

However, the new pair got into trouble between the wickets with Kandola run out for 51 and Baylis leg before for just 6.

KCC, struggling on 142-6 by the 42nd over, saw Chris Pyke run out for 3 and Matt Fludgate (11) caught.

But in-form Richard Bradford raised the scoring tempo after just 20 runs were added between the 30th and 40th overs.

Bradford (45) became the third run-out victim and KCC added just eight runs off the last four overs.

Harborne were given an extra over after dismissing the home side in less than 55 and opened with high hopes on a good batting wicket.

But they found themselves bogged down despite setting off at a great rate and blasting 58 runs by the 15th over.

Singh took a catch off Mansell's bowling to remove Gear (34) and then carried on the good work by bowling Dyer (26).

At 58-2, Harborne's Nayyer was a thorn in the KCC side but was never in a hurry as a 57-run partnership with Moreton took 26 overs.

The latter was stumped by Davies off Singh who, along with Mansell, was bowling well, aided by a good fielding display.

Singh and Mansell claimed the cheap wickets of Stevens and Payne but Masood and Nayyer stepped up the scoring rate.

They put on 30 before Davies stumped Masood for 14 and then Fludgate took the vital wicket of Nayyer (74) off Singh with a fine catch.

KCC sensed victory but it was not to be despite Mansell taking another wicket off Davies' third stumping.

The team gained form and confidence which should prepare them well for Saturday's home game with leaders Shrewsbury.

Mansell (5-69) and Singh (3-71) bowled unchanged for 46 overs, conceded just 140 runs and took eight wickets.

KCC 204, Harborne 190-8.

The seconds won a thrilling game off the last ball at top-of-the-table Harborne.

The home side batted first and rarely escaped the tight pressure of the disciplined KCC bowlers.

Craig Siwicki and Simon Whitmore removed the openers before Eversham and Joe Hill attacked the middle order.

And Mark Venross closed off the Harborne innings, conceding just 23 off nine overs.

Harborne's excellent pace attack reduced KCC to 4-2 but Godfrey Lamb (50) and Hill (57) rebuilt the innings with a century stand.

They still needed 56 runs off the last 10 overs as wickets fell regularly.

But Phil Shaw joined the experienced Gavin Evans with 22 needed off two overs and the duo fired KCC home.

Evans struck a huge six before Shaw hit a winning boundary for the second time this season.

Harborne 175-7, KCC 2nds 180-8.

KCC thirds slipped to an exciting four-wicket defeat at Teme Valley in Worcestershire Saturday League Division Six.

After being asked to bat first, all the KCC batsmen struggled on a difficult wicket with skipper Simon Trickett (39) offering the main resistance.

They were bowled out for only 100 in 39 overs with an inconsistent bounce playing its part.

In reply, Andy Logan and Ian Kimberlin started well with the former producing hostile fast bowling.

Tony Burkes picked up two wickets as the home team also found batting difficult.

Wickets fell regularly and excellent fielding was typified by Ryan Gethins' three catches.

But Valley eventually scored their runs in 36 overs with six wickets down.

KCC 3rds 100, Teme Valley 102-6.