KIDDERMINSTER finished their Birmingham League division one cricket fixtures with a losing draw against Harborne at Chester Road.

Winning the toss, Harborne elected to bat and made a good start. They lost their first wicket with the score on 126 in the 34th over when Dyer departed with 39.

With only 11 runs added, Harborne suddenly found themselves in trouble. Having reached 84, Gear was caught by Ian Kimberlin, the first of Mark Mansell's three wickets.

But Harborne made a spirited recovery to reach 226. Nayyar was 46 not out and Thompson 18 not out.

The Kidderminster bowlers had performed well with Mansell (3-43) the pick of the bunch.

On the small Harborne ground, 226 was not a big score, but as so often happens to Kidderminster, there was no big opening partnership.

Steve Davies was first out for 17 and he was soon followed by Gurdeep Kandola out for a duck.

Craig Wood joined Mansell and the next 10 overs only produced 18 runs, and the next ten 32.

With the score at 143 Wood was out for 28 and Richard Bradford joined Mansell and they batted steadily, but had added only 20 before Mansell was out leg before for a superb 92. with the score on 163-4.

Chris Pyke and Bradford batted confidently and the score had reached 202 when Pyke was out for 10, but worse was to come when Sean Lloyd was bowled for a duck.

Now the scoreboard read 203-7, so it was backs to the wall with Gomez Viencent one not out and Bradford 42 not out.

To be 15 short of victory can be considered bad luck, but it has happened all too often with KIdderminster this season.

Playing so many teen-agers is refreshing and good for the long-term, but all season there has been a shortage of experience, something that will surely be corrected by next season.