WHEN a win looked a mere formality, Kidderminster gave themselves a scare before recording a three-wicket success over West Bromwich Dartmouth in Birmingham and District Premier League.

The home side were cruising to their first victory of the season at 167-4 when Matthew Friedlander bowled captain Mark Mansell for 31.

Mansell was followed by Stephen Ralph and Amit Sharma as Kidderminster lost three quick wickets.

But at 182-7, chasing 206 for victory, Reuben Spiring and Paul Vinas saw their team safely home.

West Bromwich had been asked to bat and made a steady start.

Only leg spinner Mandeep Singh made inroads into the visitors' batting but Mark Sellek, returning to action, took 1-17 from seven overs.

Neeraj Prabhu and Naheem Sajaad (45) took the score from 85-3 to 136-4 in 11 overs.

When Prabhu (55) departed to a sharp run-out, Friedlander forced the scoring with a positive 28 not out.

The final total could have been 20 or 30 runs less but for dropped catches and sloppy fielding.

The Chester Road men lost an early wicket at 12 but this brought the two county players, James Pipe (23) and Spiring, to the crease.

They upped the rate to 69 in the next 16 overs before Pipe played a loose shot to be caught and bowled by Sajaad, who also removed Singh for six in his next over.

After three dropped catches and missed chances to restrict the runs, the visitors' field placing paid off and the batsmen were restricted to singles.

With less than four an over needed, however, and despite losing the three wickets for 15, it was left to Vinas to score the winning runs.

However, Spiring (87 not out) takes much of the credit for guiding the team to a well-deserved victory and a maximum 20 points.

West Bromwich 205-6, Kidderminster 207-7.

Moseley 2nds 200-8, Kidderminster 2nds 204-5 (M Fludgate 59no)

Fixtures, Saturday: Wolverhampton v 1sts (1pm), 2nds v Wolverhampton (1.30pm), 3rds v Cutnall Green (2pm).

Sunday: U-13s pairs v Romsley (10am). Monday: U-16s v Oldswinford (6.30pm). Wednesday: Himley or Old Hill v 1sts (6.30pm) - League Challenge Cup.