MATT Pardoe says Kidderminster Victoria have put themselves back in the mix for the Birmingham and District League title.

A winning draw at Worcestershire rivals Barnt Green confirmed the Chester’s Road side’s revival as they moved up to fourth and closed the gap on leaders Shrewsbury to 34 points.

They will be aiming to keep the pressure on when they take on Knowle and Dorridge away on Saturday, with a noon start.

But captain Pardoe will want his side to go into the last six games still in with a shout and then take advantage of the win/lose ODI format.

Kidderminster filled their boots in the first five matches of the season in that scoring system with a 100 per cent record.

He said: “The league is very tight and at this stage any of the top six are still in with a chance of winning the league.

“If we can get a good result on Saturday against Knowle and Dorridge we then go into the win/lose games and we’ve looked very good in those matches.”

Kidderminster produced a fine all round display to get the better of a strong but inconsistent Green team at their Cherry Hill Road side.

Pardoe won the toss and elected to bat first, his side making 299 all out.

Nathan Round top scored with a brisk 89 runs off 107 balls while Neil Pinner (44) and Connor Smith (54) also made big contributions.

KVCC’s bowlers then stunned Green’s normally potent top order batsmen.

Smith bowled opener Sam Cheshire for a duck and Round did the same to William Baker.

But they also took the key wicket of prolific batsman Ed Pollock for 11 runs, the former Worcestershire man averaged 83 this year, when Thomas Kimberlin caught him off Round’s bowling.

When Smith dismissed Matthew Lamb for nought, KVCC had reduced Green to 19-4.

But the hosts rallied and Tom Banton (18), Andrew Sutton (55), Luke Radford (29) and Alastair Pollock (19) all proved obdurate as a stubborn home side made 154-8.

Pardoe said: “It was a very good all round performance by the team.

“We make specific plans for players and it was good to see that come off for a dangerous player like Ed Pollock.”