Matt keeps Vics in hunt (From Worcester News)

Matt keeps Vics in hunt

7:30pm Sunday 5th July 2009

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KIDDERMINSTER Victoria secured a fine seven-wicket win over Leamington Spa in the Birmingham League Premier Division to keep their title hopes alive.

KVCC moved into fourth place in the league just 22 points off the leaders Knowle & Dorridge who lost to bottom side Shrewsbury.

Once again, the opening partnership of Matt Pardoe and Craig Wood was impressive.

Pardoe scored 115, his second century in successive matches, with Wood in strong support with 60.

KVCC won the toss and invited Leamington to bat.

In the absence of Imran Arif, Ted Baylis and Pardoe opened the bowling and with the score on 24 the latter had Alex Phillips removed for 17.

Arfan Khan replaced Pardoe (1-27) and the Kidderminster bowling was certainly on top. Khan was replaced by Mark Mansell, and he and skipper Jonathan Wright (5-67) formed an all-spin attack that proved to be very productive. Simon Magill and Mark Lewis took the score up to 84 when Lewis was caught behind by keeper Jon Smith off Wright for 22, before he bowled Tom Lewis for eight.

Wright got his third wicket when dismissing Robert Williams for three Leamington were struggling at 130-4 off 41 overs and Magill was next to fall when he was run out for 82.

David Bailey was also run out, while Wright claimed two more wickets as Leamington could only post disappointing 208-8.

Wood and Pardoe soon settled to the task, scoring 78 off the first 20 overs. Pardoe was the more dominant, but Wood was never far behind before a 40 minute rain break.

The Wood-Pardoe partnership had produced 164 runs in 32 overs when Wood went for 68.

Fourteen runs later, Neil Pinner was dismissed for one by Lewis, who then removed Pardoe for 115 off 107 balls hitting 17 fours and two sixes.

James Ralph and Ted Baylis, both not out on 23 and 1, finally wrapped up the match with sixteen overs to spare.

On Saturday, Kidderminster are at home to another side struggling at the foot of the table, Moseley. Kidderminster won there on the opening day of the season, so will be looking for the double.

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