KIDDERMINSTER Victoria top the Birmingham and District Cricket League Premier Division after their five-wicket win over Knowle and Dorridge at the end of the first round of 50-over games.

On winning the toss at Chester Road, the visitors started briskly but, once the pace was taken off the ball, they lost regular wickets and owed much to a fighting 71 from 89 balls from Alex Keath to see them to 197-7.

In reply, skipper Matt Pardoe, despite a foot injury, smashed 10 fours and two sixes in a 38-ball 56 before leaving Michael Hill (52) and Andrew Kimberlin (46) to take the score to 161 before the loss of the second wicket.

After a slight wobble to 168-4, Nathan Round hit 20 to see Kidderminster to their fifth consecutive win.

The 2014 champions West Bromwich Dartmouth dropped into the bottom two after an eight-wicket defeat to promoted Ombersley, who cantered to their third successive victory after two opening losses.

Kadeer Ali laboured for 126 balls to reach 67 for Dartmouth but received little support as they struggled to make 182 all out.

Ollie Uffindall took 4-36 for the hosts, who were steered home by an unbroken third-wicket partnership of 146 between Uday Kaul (82 not out) and Worcestershire's Brett D’Oliveira (51no) after they lost their first two wickets on 39.  

Brockhampton picked up their first victory of the season with a comprehensive 125-run win at Kenilworth Wardens.

Skipper Chris Boroughs (101) led the Herefordshire side to 261-6 in 50 overs.

He received good support from Danny Irvine (36) and Nick Powell (35) before Boroughs, Powell and Adam Hewlett took three wickets apiece to dismiss Wardens for 136.

A superb spell from Berkswell’s Mohammed Ahmed (6-37) reduced Barnt Green to 163 all out at The Lant after Will Baker (59) gave them a steady start.

Green’s hopes of victory were raised briefly when Nick James was out without scoring.

But a stand of 157 for the second wicket between Mark Best (114) and Chris Whittock (46no) rushed Berkswell to an eight-wicket win in the 25th over of their reply. Best faced 66 balls and struck 21 fours and two sixes.

In Division One, Barnards Green went to the top of the table after going one point ahead of Walsall by beating their hosts.

Fine bowling by Walsall’s Tim Maxfield (5-48) and Ed Denham (3-22) kept a tight rein on the Malvern side, who struggled to 150 all out at Gorway.

But the home side’s batting did not match their bowling attack as they stumbled to 126 all out to miss a golden opportunity to extend their unbeaten start to the season. 

Andrew Curtis hit 53 for Green but Walsall’s top score was only 28 from James Middleton as Phil Harris (3-18) and Jon Dovey (3-23) did the damage. 

A superb spell of 5-42 from Attock’s Junaid Khan reduced Bromsgrove to 100 all out before an opening stand of 64 between Asim Khan (39) and Arsalaan Mahmood (31) laid the perfect foundation for an eight-wicket victory.

In Division Two, Jack Myers (82) and Andrew Fisher (50) took Eastnor to 249 all out at Bridgnorth.

But, on a pitch prepared for last week’s Twenty20 match between Shropshire and Worcestershire, the hosts eased to a six-wicket win with impressive contributions from Ryan Lockley (92no), Simon Gregory (75) and James Ralph (41).

Tamworth remain in third place after a 95-run win over Worcester's Old Elizabethans.

Jake Flower scored 57 and Dean Van Deventer added 49 as Tamworth scored 241 with OEs seamer Liam Booth returning figures of 4-28. In reply, OEs fell short on 146.

Jonathan Summers took 4-35 as Pelsall crumbled to 91 all out at Astwood Bank before Matthew Macdonald (47no) and Steve Adshead (34no) eased the Worcestershire side to victory after they lost their first two wickets for 14.

Adam Warden took 4-31 for Kings Heath as they strolled to a five-wicket win at promoted Worcester, who were dismissed for just 88.