KIDDERMINSTER Victoria dumped Shrewsbury deeper into the Birmingham League premier division relegation mire and eased their own fears of the drop with a winning draw in wet conditions.

The struggling Shropshire side, who are racing certainties for the drop, had packed up and were ready to go home after a downpour at tea hinted at a likely abandonment.

But a successful mopping up operation from the Chester Road groundstaff made the pitch playable and KVCC went on to claim 11 points after getting the better of a draw.

The sides - who were both promoted from Division One last season - eventually got going later than scheduled after the rain reduced the clash to a 50-over match.

KVCC put Shrewsbury into bat and almost regretted it as the visitors took advantage of poor fielding to rattle up 227-6.

Shrewsbury's teenage batsman Jimmy Taylor, an England under-16 star, took centre stage and ended unbeaten on 104.

His maiden century Premier Division century lasted two hours and eight minutes, 134 balls and included 14 fours and a six.

KVCC had a young England star of their own with under-15s player Neil Pinner making an encouraging debut for the senior side.

He is the third generation of the Pinner family to play for Kidderminster following in the footsteps of father Brian and grandfather Bill.

Pinner took a catch to dismiss Shrewsbury opener Ed Foster for 12 from the bowling of Jonathan Miles who finished with 2-32.

Skipper Jonathan Wright finished with 3-89 and Vishal Bhatia took 1-57 but none of the bowlers could remove Taylor or partner Jack Shantry who hit two massive sixes in an unbeaten knock of 29.

When tea and the rain arrived just before 4pm it seemed there was little hope of a restart, but KVCC went into bat at 6.14pm, and by 7.48pm had secured the winning draw.

Openers Wright and Josh Knappett were soon parted with only 22 runs on the board in six overs when the latter was bowled by Mullins for seven.

But Wright and Will Gifford, both out of form in recent weeks, batted well to take the score to 107 in the 20th over before Gifford was stumped for 50.

Craig Wood and Wright passed the required total of 114 with Wright not out on 60 and Wood unbeaten on one.

KVCC aim to continue a solid season and go a long way towards preserving their Premier Division status at Himley at 12.30pm on Saturday and at home to Kenilworth Wardens at 12.30pm on Monday.