NEW club captain Sean Lloyd started in a winning vein in Kidderminster firsts' opening competitive match of the season.

They beat Kings Heath by six wickets in a National Knock-out Cup first round match hit by the wet weather at Chester Road.

The visitors had their allotted 45 overs but were restricted to 189-9 by good bowling and fielding.

Richard Bradford, just a batter last season, has been given a chance to bowl as well and he impressed, taking 3-26.

Craig Siwicki (2-42) and former skipper Mark Mansell (3-33) were the other wicket-takers.

Chris Pyke (0-35), Joe Hill (0-30) and Steve Davies (0-20) were quite economical.

Following the delay for rain, KIdderminster had a target of 160 to reach with 38 overs at their disposal.

Openers Davies and Mansell put on 45 for the first wicket with Davies out for 21.

Mansell followed five runs later having scored 17.

Captain Lloyd, also the groundsman, and Worcestershire scholar Gurdeep Kandola looked in good form.

But Lloyd (14) was the third man out at 96-3 before Kandola (28) followed 10 runs later.

However, Kidderminster were always in control and no more so than when Bradford and Paul Mitchell came together.

They played some fine strokes and reached the required 160 with almost two overs to spare.

Mitchell was 20 not out and 21-year-old Bradford remained unbeaten on 35.

Kidderminster will travel to play the winners of the Wolverhampton and Harborne tie on Sunday, May 12.

The game was abandoned this week because of rain.

The firsts begin their Birmingham and District League Division One campaign with a trip to Shrewsbury on Saturday.

The Shropshire side won Division Two West last season.

Kings Heath 189-9,

Kidderminster 160-4.

Kidderminster seconds lost to Stratford in the Birmingham and District League Seconds Division.

They scored 223-5 off the allotted 50 overs with top scorer Ted Baylis not out on 61.

Wicket-keeper Davies lost both opening partners, Matthew Fludgate (5) and Hill (1), but scored 42 himself.

Bradford batted well for 56 as did Pyke who was run out on 34.

Kidderminster's total of 223 could have been sufficient but experienced opposing batters and poor weather made life difficult.

The only wicket-taker was Hill (1-29).

The match was played a week before the season starts to allow for the County Championship match in August.

Kidderminster 2nds 223-5,

Stratford 226-1.

The thirds got their Worcestershire League season off to an excellent start with an impressive seven-wicket win over Cookhill.

A fine fielding display and impressive bowling from youngsters Peter Warne, Luke Martin and Dan Williams restricted the visitors to 192-5 from 45 overs.

In reply, a superb opening stand between Andy Logan (47) and Phil Shaw (71), with support from Gomez Vincent (34), ensured victory with 10 overs to spare.

Cookhill 192-5,

Kidderminster 3rds 195-3.

Fixtures, Saturday: Shrewsbury v Kidderminster 1sts (1pm), 2nds v Cannock (1.30pm), 3rds v Knighton-on-Teme (2pm).