KIDDERMINSTER Victoria CC failed to fire as they slumped to an 84 run loss at the hands of Shrewsbury in the Birmingham and District League Premier Division on Saturday.

The Chester Road outfit's normally potent batting line-up struggled for form as KVCC missed a chance to leapfrog their Shropshire-based opponents.

Instead, the fourth-placed title hopefuls are now 37 points behind leaders Knowle and Dorridge, who moved to the top of the table.

Apart from the experienced Mark Mansell, who impressed with the bat and ball for the away side, KVCC's struggled in all departments The impressive depth of battling KVCC boasted at the start of the season has been replaced by inconsistency and for the first time this campaign no one in the top order were able to impose themselves.

They had been given a steep target of 300 for victory after Shrewsbury had made 299-8, as the visitor's bowlers toiled on a flat track.

Home side Shrewsbury had raced to 60 in the first 11 overs, as KVCC's strike pairing of Jason Voros and Gareth Williams struggled to find away through.

Mansell made the breakthrough in his first over, having Ryan Bishop (34) caught by wicketkeeper Jon Smith.

But the hosts continued to forge ahead and a further 67 runs were made before Neil Pinner's spin accounted for Will Parton (30).

Ed Foster made 110 before he was run out while Joe Leach (102) piled more misery on KVCC, despite lower order wickets tumbling around him.

Mansell ended with 60 runs for three wickets in 14 overs.

KVCC's reply started shakily when opener Craig Wood was dismissed for a duck.

Worcestershire teammates Pardoe and Pinner took the score up to 33, when Bishop took a second catch to dismiss Pardoe for 24 off Paul Donaldson's delivery.

The in-form James Ralph caught by Leach off the bowling of Elliott Green, while Pinner was dismissed on 27.

Andy Kimberlin (5) and captain Jonathan Wright (9) failed to make an impact as KVCC slumped to 119-6.

Voros (10) and Jon Smith (19) failed to hang around but Andrew Siwicki frustrated Shrewsbury by hitting 34 runs before being caught by Jon Anders.

Mansell revived hopes of a draw with a swash-buckling 33, an innings that included six boundaries, but Shrewsbury's pressure eventually told.

Mansell was caught by Anders off the bowling of Alex Blofield as KVCC fell short on 215 all out.

KVCC will be aiming to get back on track on Saturday when they go to inconsistent Himley in the league (noon start).

Meanwhile, under-17s powered into the semi-finals of the Ryan Birt Trophy with an eight-wicket win over Worcester Norton Taverners.

Winning the toss at Chester Road, Worcester chose to bat first but found it difficult against the opening bowling attack of Alex Hills and Ryan Parker and scored only 14 runs off the first six overs.

Parker was in particularly good form and clean bowled both Worcester's openers, finishing on impressive figures of 2-8.

Needing to accelerate the scoring, Nick Brown was beginning to look dangerous before he was given out lbw off the bowling off Jaimen Rudd, who completed his four overs of left arm spin for 32 runs.

The only other Worcester batsman to make any impression was John Haddock who had scored 39 when Ryan Derrick (2-28) claimed his wicket as KVCC were set 111 for victory.

Rudd and Jamie Brighton made a good start before the former was bowled in the seventh over having scored 19.

Defending such a moderate score in favourable batting conditions, Worcester needed to take wickets but an impressive partnership between incoming batsman Hills (30 not) out and Brighton (40 not out) saw the hosts home comfortably.

KVCC now face cup holders Colwell in the last four.

In the Worcestershire County League Division Six, promising youngsters Ryan Derrick (131), 16, and 15-year-old Henry Wright (104 not out) helped KVCC beat Kemp by 10 wickets.