J0NATHAN Wright celebrated his 40th birthday with a dazzling century in Kidderminster Victoria's four-wicket win over Harborne in the Birmingham & District League Division One at Chester Road on Saturday.

South African Divan Van Wyk cracked a superb 87, but it was skipper Wright who was the star of the show, making 146 before being run out after hitting ten fours and nine sixes.

His second wicket partnership with Van Wyk produced 210 after KVCC lost their first wicket for just 21.

Second-in-the-table Kidd-erminster had won yet another toss and asked Harborne to bat.

They had an early success when Ted Baylis trapped Bailey leg-before for 3. Then came a good stand of 103 before Wood was stumped by Tom Sherriff off Nigel Davenport for 63.

Davenport then struck with his next ball to remove Cockcroft for a 'duck'.

There was then another century stand - 121 - between Andy Lloyd and Stephen Moreton. This ended when Lloyd was run out for 86.

The score reached 236-4 and Payne played a good supporting role to Moreton as the runs piled up. Payne was eventually run out for 8 with the score at 271.

Jordan did not get a run, but with the innings coming to a close Moreton struck the ball for a boundary that gave him a well-deserved century.

Davenport took 2-46 with Baylis claiming 1-63.

Kidderminster's run chase did not start well. The Mark Mansell-Jon Wright opening partnership was worth only 21 runs when Mansell was caught for five.

The game then swung in the Chester Road men's favour with the arrival of Van Wyk. He started steadily, but Wright was soon getting into his stride.

Fours and sixes were the order of the day and it only ended when Wright was run out.

Van Wyk's new partner was Craig Wood who had notched two half centuries in recent games. But it was not to be his day this time as he was trapped lbw for 6 when the score had reached 260.

Sean Lloyd then saw Van Wyk depart, caught Thompson bowled Mees, after a very stylish innings from the 20-year-old South African under 19s skipper.

At 266, Lloyd departed for a 'duck' and the next batsman, Nigel Davenport, struck one four before being bowled by Cockcroft. The score was 267-6 and the crowd were fearing the worst as the overs were running out.

Baylis and Andy Siwicki were together and gradually the runs came. At the close, with only two balls remaining, Siwicki had notched 10 valuable match-winning runs.

Kidderminster collected 20 points from the success, while Harborne picked up six.

l KVCC 2nd Xl picked up 24 points for their victory at Harborne and sit on top of the Second XI Premier League table.

Harborne 2nd Xl (6pts) 215 (J. Moreton 99; P. Thomas 5-48, C Siwicki 3-22), KVCC 2nd Xl (24) 246-8 (P. Stevens 59, G. Lamb 54, C Pyke 43).