A NEW professional outlook at Kidderminster Cricket Club is beginning to reap dividends after a double weekend success.

They completed their first Birmingham League Division One win of the season by six wickets over neighbours Bromsgrove.

And Kidderminster passed a big target of 284 at Harborne to progress to the National Knock-out Cup third round on Sunday.

Spirits are high for Saturday's home game with early strugglers Attock though coach Rob Wood is guarding against complacency.

Mark Mansell, Gurdeep Kandola, Steve Davies and Mandeep Singh have all hit big-scoring form with the bat.

And Worcestershire paceman Chris Liptrot gave Kidderminster much-needed experience in their bowling attack.

Wood admitted the team is heading in the right direction and gave glowing praise to "positive" captain Sean Lloyd.

He said: "Sean's brought experience from Old Hill and they are one of the most professional sides to play against in the Birmingham League.

"In the matches so far, it has stood out that he is extremely positive. He has been a breath of fresh air and has come in with a new outlook whatever the task ahead.

"Chasing 284 on Sunday was a massive total but at no stage did he dismiss our chances and he focussed on how we would win the game.

"It was a small ground and if the opponents had scored the runs then why shouldn't we?"

Kidderminster have been showing strong character which is rubbing off on all the players.

Wood continued: "There is a very good team spirit and everyone is working hard for each other. Training has been better attended than it was before.

"When they go through the difficult times, the team doesn't give up. They stick with the task.

"There were times in the past when they may have been thinking about the opposition but now they focus on the right things.

"They concentrate on their own performances and working to a game plan.

"We're very encouraged by what's happening at the moment. It's certainly going in the right direction."

Kidderminster's young players continue to impress although the team is restricted as U-19s are only able to bowl three spells of seven overs.

But, on the batting side, county seconds star Kandola is really starting to make an impact, conjuring up images of Indian sensation Sachin Tendulkar.

Wood added: "Kandola is absolutely magnificent and reminds me of Tendulkar. In fact, that's what they call him at Worcestershire.

"In terms of technique, he's one of the best batsman I've seen for a long time."