KIDDERMINSTER Victoria CC got their season off to a winning start as they overcame Walmley by 22 runs in the Graham Williamson Trophy on Saturday.

KVCC batted first and were soon under immense pressure, losing their first four wickets for only five runs.

Only opener James Ralph (4) troubled the scorers, with Matt Pardoe, Craig Wood, and skipper Jonathan Wright starting the season with ducks.

Neil Pinner and Andrew Siwicki came to the rescue with a stand of 48 before Pinner was run out for 31. However, 20 of the 40 overs had been bowled.

KVCC then got going, with Ted Baylis and Siwicki moving the score on quite quickly. The next 14 overs produced 81 runs, but at 134 Baylis was out for 45, an innings which included four sixes.

Siwicki batted with lots of confidence and after reaching 61 was caught.

Mansell (7), Kimberlin (5) and Smith (2) were the other scorers as they made 177-8.

Walmley’s innings started almost as badly as KVCC's, with Mohammed (7) back in the pavilion with the total at 15.

Patel was their mainstay and helped the score up to 105 before being bowled by Wright for 41. Apart from Broom (21), Walmley had little to offer and were all out in the 39th over.

Arfan Khan, 3-26, continued on from last season with some steady bowling.

Both Mark Mansell (2-24) and Ted Baylis (2-26) bowled tidily, while there was good support from James Ralph, Wright (1-32) and Matt Pardoe as their opponents were dismissed for 127 in 39 overs.

KVCC have been drawn away to Womborne in the next round on Saturday (1pm start).

On Sunday, KVCC comfortably overcame Old Hill in a friendly.

Batting first, Old Hill scored 169-5 with Hingley top scorer with 42 not out. Farooque scored 36, Fox 29 and Bending 26.

Matt Pardoe (2-23), Ralph (2-26) and Wright (1-22), took wickets as Old Hill were bowled out for 169-5.

KVCC's batsmen did not capitulate as they had done at Walmley and Ralph and Pardoe were soon settling in to a sound partnership.

Ralph retired having scored a good 54 as did Pardoe when he had reached 52.

Andy Kimberlin finished on 44 not out with Craig Wood on six as KVCC reached 171 without losing a wicket.