NEIL Pinner has challenged Kidderminster to put a winning run together after he helped fire them to victory against Halesowen.

The captain smashed 123 last Saturday and worked well with young prospect Shameer Ahmed (50) to set up their second win of the season.

He is now looking to build on the success and avoid a repeat of when they failed to back up their opening day win at Bridgnorth when losing at Barnards Green a week later.

Pinner said: "We've got two wins from three now but you can already see that it's going to be really competitive this year.

"The aim is to keep the run going and try and build more confidence. Momentum is really important."

KCC secured a 141-run success last Saturday after winning the toss at Chester Road.

However, they had to recover from a shaky start with the score at 17-2 with both openers out. Charlie Stainforth (4) and Andy Kimberlin (6) gave Eddie Rhodes some reward for fine bowling on a good wicket.

Ahmed, who arrived from Old Elizabethans in the summer, and Pinner then started to turn the tables on Halesowen with a superb stand of 156.

Ahmed had scored 50 when he was caught off the bowling of Alexei Kervezee.

Pinner was in majestic form as he continued to find the boundary. Having passed his century, he was eventually caught by Wesley Griffiths bowled Charles Hartley for 123.

The batting then declined as Connor Smith (9), Richard Kimberlin (6), Sam Beadsworth (0), Tom Kimberlin (16) and Liam Weston (1) followed but KCC ended on 245-9 from their 50 overs.

Halesowen never really got started in their reply. Good bowling resulted in seven catches behind the wicket. Keeper Tom Kimberlin took three, Neil Pinner another three and Andy Kimberlin one more as Hales were eventually bowled out for just 104.

Pinner added: "It was really nice to play at home. It was the best wicket we have played on so far and we took advantage of that.

"You could bat quite sensibly and the runs came quickly.

"We had to rebuild a little after losing the openers but that's why it was so pleasing to see Shameer do so well. He's a talented young lad and hopefully we can keep him for many years to come.

"After that we wanted to build pressure with the ball and keep the run-rate down. We did that and held all our catches."

Second-placed Kidderminster will now travel to basement boys Wellington this Saturday (noon start).

Meanwhile, it wasn't all good news for KCC last weekend as they suffered a 75-run defeat against Stourbridge in the National Knock-out Cup.