KIDDERMINSTER Victoria Cricket Club are sitting pretty at the top of the Birmingham League Premier Division after snatching a tremendous four-run win against Barnt Green at Chester Road on Saturday.

After a rocky start when they batted first and slumped to 66-6 in 21 overs, the town side turned the game around with a gritty display to win with two balls to spare.

Leading the recovery was man-of-the-match Ted Baylis, who starred in a match-winning partnership of 67 for the ninth wicket with wicket-keeper Jon Smith.

Baylis, better known for his bowling, began the recovery when he teamed up with Andy Kimberlin to ease the score up to 94 before his partner went for 11.

But Baylis had got the measure of the pitch and the bowling by then and he was the dominant figure after being joined by Smith.

Their partnership yielded 67 runs in 13 overs and only ended when Baylis was stumped for an exquisite 67.

He had batted for 126 minutes, facing 108 balls and included three 4s and four 6s in his knock.

Smith, who joined the club from Himley in the close season, showed some promising quality with the bat and was 20 not out at the finish as Kidderminster were all out for 188 in the 55th over.

The home bowlers responded by whipping out the first four visiting batsmen for just 54 runs Arfan Khan accounted for three of the victims and KVCC scented victory.

However, visiting skipper Dougie Brown looked like proving a stumbling block and moved the score on past the 100 mark with the help of a couple of partners.

But when the total had reached 143, he was caught by Smith off Baylis for 61 and a tight finish was in prospect.

Barnt Green reached the last over needing five to win, but Kidderminster brought back Khan at the railway end and he proved the trump card.

He snapped up the last wicket with his fourth delivery to end the visitors’ reply on 184.

Khan narrowly missed out on the man-of-the-match accolade but proved highly influential in the victory.

He finished with excellent figures of 4-53, while Baylis(2-46), Matt Pardoe (1-32) and Mark Mansell (1-45) took the other wickets.

KVCC have now won all seven games so far this season but have a big test when they travel to Walsall on Saturday (12 noon).

Kidderminster top the table with 44 points - the same number as second-placed Knowle & Dorridge, while Walsall lie in third place with 37.