KIDDERMINSTER overcame the odds to reach the final of the Graham Williamson Trophy as they saw off Berkswell with only nine players.

In a match which was almost abandoned by rain, both teams were determined to finish the contest. Much praise was due groundsman Chris Longmore who worked tirelessly to keep the game going.

Eventually, it was limited to a 28 overs a side match under the Duckworth-Lewis method.

Berkswell won the toss and elected to bat, losing their first two wickets for 40 runs with Charlie Stainforth bowling out James Neale (20) and Liam Gateley (13).

Forty runs were added when Jonathan Wright bowled Nick James for 17.

The next three wickets fell to 16-year-old George Hatfield who was making his first team debut.

He had Tom Milnes lbw for 40, former Warwickshire stalwart Dominic Ostler (13) caught by Ian Tidmarsh and then Phil Neale caught by Stainforth for 22.

Berkswell were running out of steam and overs by the time Michael Hill was run out out by Mohammed Ahmed for 11.

Chris Taroni was unbeaten on 27 and Gert Cloete was yet to get off the mark as Berkswell finished on 182-7 in their 28 overs.

Hatfield’s figures were an impressive 3-31, and Stainforth took 2-30, while Wright chipped in with a wicket.

Kidderminster made a good start with Craig Wood and Charlie Stainforth reaching 50 for the first wicket before Stainforth was trapped leg before by Nick James for 20.

Wood had reached 25 when he was joined by Hill and the runs then flowed at a good rate. The pair put on 81 in ten overs when Hill was caught by Milnes off the bowling of Ahmed for 48.

Hatfield was next in with 66 more needed for victory.

Both the teenager and Wood dominated the bowling with plenty of boundaries as Kidderminster won with 16 balls to spare.

Hatfield made 28 but Wood was the game’s top-scorer with 93, including ten fours and two sixes. Kidderminster will play Walsall in the final at Walsall on Sunday, May 28 (12.30pm start). Any replay needed will be on the following day. The day before their cup success, Kiddy entertained Ombersley in the first match of the league campaign.

Their cup success over the same opponents the week before counted for nothing as they went down to a seven-wicket loss.

Batting first, Kidderminster scored 170-9 in 42 overs.

Top-scorers were Neil Pinner (53) and Mike Hill 26. Ombersley clinched it in the 30th over with Liam Glynne scoring 71, helped by 11 fours and one six.

Next Saturday, Kidderminster travel to West Bromwich for a league match (noon start).