KIDDERMINSTER Victoria were left with mixed emotions after virtuoso batting from two young centurions rescued them -- before the rain ruined any hopes of victory over Barnt Green.

The Chester Road men feared the worst when, after opting to bat, they lost skipper Jonathan Wright (1), Mark Mansell (1) and Josh Knappett (14) early on.

But the masterful partnership of Will Gifford and Craig Wood, who used to open the batting together for Malvern College, got KVCC well and truly back on track.

Wilkinson had taken the scalps of Mansell and Knappett with Williams seeing off Wright - but the Barnt Green attack had no answer to the Gifford-Wood double act.

By the time Gifford was caught for 138 by Bedford off Jones's bowling, the duo had achieved a 235-run stand with Wood going on to make a near flawless 110 before he fell to the same bowler.

Their batting advanced the score to 279-4 and was a treat for the large crowd of KVCC fans who assembled for the vice presidents day.

Gifford's total included 11 fours and three sixes off 155 balls, while man-of-the-match Wood took only 119 balls with 10 fours and a six.

Andy Siwicki and Ted Baylis played out the remaining overs, scoring one and six respectively as the hosts closed on 286-5.

For Barnt Green, Jones had taken 2-56, Wilkinson 2-69 and Williams 1-51, while former county spinner Matthew Rawnsley had an expensive afternoon, conceding 70 runs from his 10 overs.

Although KVCC's innings was affected by rain, with a stoppage of 85 minutes, good work by the Chester Road groundstaff got the game restarted.

But Barnt Green only faced seven balls before the heavens opened again, with Bedford hitting just three runs.

With the match inevitably abandoned, the rain won the day, but it was Gifford and Wood who reigned on a memorable afternoon of cricket.

Next Saturday, Kidderminster travel to Moseley with a 1pm start.

In the 2nd XI Premier Division, KVCC's seconds had a losing draw at Barnt Green after making 117-7 in reply to the hosts' 175-8.

KVCC took five points with Barnt Green gaining 13.