KIDDERMINSTER Victoria gave their Birmingham League Premier Division survival hopes a major shot in the arm with a winning draw at home to Kenilworth on Monday.

It completed a mixed weekend for the Chester Road men who only took five points from their abandoned clash at Himley on Saturday.

Captain Jonathon Wright and co now go into this weekend's daunting trip to league-leaders West Brom wich Dartmouth with renewed confidence.

KVCC almost defeated third-placed Kenilworth after winning the toss and posting a competitive total of 243-7 in their 50 overs.

Openers Wright and Mark Mansell got off to a productive start reaching 50 by the 14th over before Mansell was bowled for 27 by Kotak and the skipper was out caught for 33 by Whitehall off Jordan's bowling.

Will Gifford soon had runs to his name and went on to make an unbeaten 73 including seven fours, but wicket keeper Josh Knappett, having scored an entertaining 32, was bowled by Kotak.

Craig Wood scored nine when he was caught Byng bowled by Kotak, and Andrew Siwicki, batting well, fell to the same bowler for 26.

Nigel Davenport was out leg before for a first-ball duck with Kotak in full flight.

KVCC had reached 186-7 with 47 of the 55 overs bowled.

Phil Shaw joined Gifford and attacked the bowling making 26 and advancing the score to 232 by the time he was stumped by Marillier.

Ted Baylis was bowled by Jordan for nought and Vishal Bhatia joined Gifford for the closing overs, adding six to take the total to 243-7.

Kotak's devilish bowling resulted in figures of 6-66, while Jordan weighed in with 2-32.

With four batting points already to their name, KVCC set about the Kenilworth batting.

Their total of 166 was never going to overtake KVCC, but Kotak, perhaps the best all-rounder in the league, finished on 60 not out. There were runs from Patel (14), Byng (28), and Jordan 28 not out.

KVCC bowled very well with Ted Baylis's 18 over spell only costing 49 runs for two wickets.

Craig Siwicki, who hasn't bowled lately, took 2-47. Vishal Bhatia only conceded 46 runs in 15 overs, and Nigel Davenport bowled superbly at the end, conceding just five runs from five overs, including three maidens.

The result leaves KVCC in seventh place and puts some vital breathing space between themselves and the relegation dogfight.

The outlook looks brighter than it did on Saturday after Coventry and NW leapfrogged KVCC by taking 24 points against Moseley from the only completed game in the division.

KVCC were put into bat by Himley and had made it to 105-6 by the time the heavens opened in the 30th over

They had taken the score to 50 by the 12th over before openers Mansell (21) and Wright (26) departed in quick succession.

Mansell fell to a catch from Wedge off the bowling of Willis, while Wright, who had hit four fours and a six, was caught by Bassett off Wills.

It was unlucky 13 for Gifford who was caught for that score by keeper Dillon to give Willis his third wicket, while KVCC's glovesman Knappett's poor batting form continued when he was caught by Dillon off Heap for just three.

Heap claimed a second wicket when he had Craig Wood caught by Byrne for two, leaving KVCC in an awkward spot at 73-5.

A Siwicki and Davenport steadied things taking the score on to 98 when Davenport was caught by Wright for eight, giving Heap his third wicket.

But the weather had become threatening and the new pairing of Siwicki and Baylis only added seven runs when the game was called off. Siwicki was not out 14 with Baylis on 3.

Heap took 3-39 and Willis 3-31.