KIDDERMINSTER Victoria captain Matt Pardoe could offer no excuses this week following his side’s ten wicket loss toKnowle and Dorridge in the Birmingham League Premier Division.

The Chester Road side were on the receiving end of a beating after failing to put enough runs on the board.

An early order collapse reduced Kidderminster to 32 for five at one point before Craig Wood with 45 and Michael Hill, who hit 34 , improved matters.

But a final Kidderminster total of 161 all out was never enough as Knowle and Dorridge knocked off the required runs to reach a winning 167 without loss inside 26 overs.

Pardoe admitted: “It was a poor batting display. We took a leaf out of Australia’s book and got out to some poor shots. As a result, we didn’t leave our bowlers with anything to bowl at.

“It’s difficult to understand why we batted so badly as only the previous week, we put 300 on the board against Barnt Green.

“Everyone will be down at nets this week when we will talk about it, but it’s clear we need better execution with our batting”.

Pardoe believes Kidderminster will be better suited now the Birmingham League returns to a win or lose format this week.

Kidderminster made a cracking start to the season when the League opened with a win-lose format, winning their first five games which left them top of the table.

Pardoe claimed: “The 50 overs format forces teams to play more positive cricket which worked out well for us early in the season.

“Our strike bowlers Connor Smith and Gareth Williams were able to put the ball on a shoestring which eventually built pressure on opposing batsmen.”

However Pardoe will be without Williams and Andy Kimberlin this Saturday when they host out of sorts Dorridge (12 noon start).

Ryan Derrick and Henry Wright are promoted into the side while Nathan Round is likely to partner Connor Smith in opening the bowling attack.