KIDDERMINSTER Victoria's visit to Kenilworth has been billed as the "tale of the Indian left-arm spinners".

KVCC will be looking to bounce back from last weekend's home defeat to Himley when they travel to Warwickshire.

And head coach Ross Edwards believes it could depend on which of the clubs' overseas stars comes out on top.

Shitansu Kotak has been Kenilworth's main dangerman with bat and ball for a number of years.

But Edwards is confident KVCC's Vishal Bhatia could have an even bigger Birmingham League impact.

"It's the tale of the two Indian left arm spinners," said Edwards. "Kotak is their main threat and he has been their leading wicket taker and run scorer for seven or eight years.

"Vishal is coming into his own now after a couple of months here and he's showing why he has played at a high level back home in India.

"His practice ethic is superb and we're hopeful that he can have an even bigger impact over here than Kotak."

KVCC have already beaten Kenilworth this season with a victory in the Graham Williamson Trophy - and they will have the added bonus of Will Gifford available this weekend.

The Worcestershire youngster was man-of-the-match in the Himley defeat - despite dropping a difficult catch which would have given KVCC victory and lifted them to third.

A poor batting display gave their bowlers little to aim at, but overseas player Vishal Bhatia came close to turning the game around with a superb spell of spin bowling.

He claimed 4-29 in 12.2 overs but the home side were unable to pull the game out of the fire and had to just five points to show for their efforts.

Chasing an apparently straightforward total of 128 to win, Himley slumped to 108-8 before scraping home through experienced batsman Tim Heap (17 not out).

But he had to survive a late scare when Kidderminster's man-of-the-match Will Gifford was unable to hold on to a running catch that could have clinched an unlikely victory for KVCC.

The visitors were set just 2.32 runs an over to win but hit early trouble when Jonathan Miles (2-26) opened the home attack and took two wickets for only four runs in his first over.

Then Bhatia got into the action and took the wicket of former Kidderminster player Ravi Nagra (25) with a return catch.

Five wickets were down when Nigel Davenport (3-37) claimed two quick victims and Kidderminster's hoped were raised even further when Bhatia sent three more batsmen back in two overs.

But after tottering at 108-8, the visitors edged to victory in the 33rd over.

Earlier KVCC lost skipper Jonathan Wright for a duck and things got worse when Andy Siwicki was trapped leg before for three.

Gifford, fresh from his captaincy duties with Loughborough University, was next man in but the home side slipped to 31-4 when Mansell went for 12 and Peter Stevens, Kidderminster's matchwinner at Shrewsbury the previous week, made only six.

Confident Gifford got little support from his team-mates as the innings drifted to 61-7 but Bhatia showed he is a useful all-rounder whe he helped Gifford to add 48 for the eighth wicket before he was needlessly run out for 17.

The score had reached 124 when Gifford was trapped leg before for 76, including 10 fours and two sixes, and the innings finished at 127 with 14 overs remaining.

KVCC travel to Kenilworth Wardens on Saturday, starting at 1pm.

The 2nd XI picked up only six points from a losing draw at Harborne. The home team scored 304-6, and KVCC held on at 197-7.

CUP SUCCESS

Kidderminster face a second round home tie with Worcester after pipping Bromsgrove by two runs in the Birmingham League Challenge Cup.

Ted Baylis was their top scorer with an unbeaten 59, including five sixes and three fours, as they totalled 159-7 in their 20 overs. Craig Wood (39 not out) and Peter Stevens (31) were their other main contributors.

Bhatia, Davenport, Wright and Siwicki claimed two wickets apiece as Bromsgrove were restricted to 157-8.