KIDDERMINSTER Victoria paid the price for a poor performance when they crashed to a 106-run defeat in a Birmingham and District Cricket League Division One match at Shrewsbury on Saturday.

Their return of just three points saw them slip from second to third place in the table and they face a difficult match at Bromsgrove this Saturday.

After winning the toss, Shrewsbury elected to bat and were always on top.

KVCC struck in the 15th over with Divan van Wyk taking a catch off Craig Jennings' bowling to remove Anders for 19 with the score on 27.

Shrewsbury had reached 72 when Ted Baylis caught Dylan Davies who had reached 25, Nigel Davenport being the bowler.

The KVCC bowling had not been particularly good and the score steadily increased. It had reached 148 in the 39th over when Jennings took his second wicket. A Mark Mansell catch saw the departure of skipper Mark Davies when he was on 44.

Twenty five more runs had been added when South was bowled by Mansell for 13, but at 173-4 with 9 overs remaining it looked as if Shrewsbury could record a decent score.

With their overseas player, Antonio Mullins, and Mark Lascelles at the crease, Shrewsbury made easy work of the KVCC bowling. The score had risen to 249 when Marc Derrick caught Mullins. Jonathan Wright was the bowler, but Mullins had scored a very quick 108.

Lascelles and Shantry batted out the innings, scoring 36 and 13 respectively.

KVCC have a good reputation in run-chasing and the total did not look beyond them, but a poor start never gave them a chance.

Wright was bowled by Anders for 9, van Wyk was caught for 1 and Mansell bowled for 16. Fifteen overs had been bowled and KVCC were 33-3. Sean Lloyd was out lbw for a "duck" and the writing was on the wall.

Craig Wood has been showing good form in recent matches and together with Andrew Siwicki brought the collapse to an end. However, it did not last long. Wood was caught when on 18, and Siwicki suffered likewise when on 11.

The score was 58-6 with barely half the allotted overs bowled. Baylis and Davenport put up a good show with 26 runs added before Baylis was caught for 20.

Davenport had been the best of the KVCC bowlers with 1-31 from 9 overs and he did well with the bat. He looked set for a half century, but was Mullins' fourth scalp when lbw for 46.

Jennings had taken two wickets but spectators saw his ability as a batsman when KVCC were in serious trouble. His defensive play was first class and he and Davenport had given their team a chance of getting a draw.

With Davenport's departure, the new batsman, wicketkeeper Tom Sherriff faced some hostile bowling from Mullins. The runs had dried up with only 3 being added in several overs when Jennings was out caught for a stubborn 10.

Derrick and Sherriff tried to weather the storm, but Sherriff was bowled for 9. Derrick remained unbeaten on 4.

Mullins had taken 5-43 in 17 overs and together with his century proved to be Shrewsbury's number one asset.

Shrewsbury 254-5 (55 overs), KVCC 148 all out (54.4 overs).

Shrewsbury (24 pts) won by 106 runs (24 pts) KVCC (3 pts).

l Table-topping Kidderminster Seconds clinched a six-wicket win at Knowle & Dorridge in the Birmingham League Second Division.

Scores: Knowle & Dorridge 147 (Warren Irvine 3-48, Andy Marley 3-21), KVCC 148-4 (Peter Stevens 60, Irvine 26, Phil Shaw 25).

This week's fixtures...

Saturday: Premier League, Bromsgrove v KVCC (1pm), KVCC 2nd Xl v Moseley Ashfield (1.30pm); County League, Coombes Wood v KVCC, Coombs Wood v KVCC 2nd Xl, KVCC 3rd Xl v Droitwich Spa (all 1.30pm).

Sunday: KVCC v Droitwich, Droitwich v KVCC 2nd Xl (both 2pm).

Tuesday: OE's v KVCC U-16s, Ombersley B v KVCC U-10s (both 6.30pm).

Wednesday: Penn v U-12s (6.30pm).