KIDDERMINSTER CC under-13s surprised Astwood Bank by beating them in the knockout cup semi-final by nine wickets on Tuesday.

Excellent fielding and bowling held Astwood to just 87 off 20, which KCC reached with a couple of overs to spare. Joe Miszkowski (32) and Matt Hatfield (30) retiring.

Kidderminster hosted the U9 softball festival on Sunday with OEs girls dropping out due to Father’s Day commitments, but carried on with three teams.

In the first game, Ombersley B won the toss and put KCC into bat, who did not lose any wickets and scored 37 runs with Reuben Townes outstanding on nine.

Ombersley replied scoring 40, but losing seven wickets, finishing on a net score of 219 to KCCs 237. Pick of the bowlers was Oliver Trickett taking one wicket for one run off a single over.

Against Cookley, they scored 63 runs losing three wickets, ending on a net score of 254, with Oliver Bruce, Jack Link and Joshua Uddy scoring nine, nine and eight respectively with no loss of wicket.

Trickett and Townes took a wicket each, with Joseph Harrison giving just one run away.

The U13s premier team lost the toss and watched Earlswood pile on 137-8 in 30 overs, despite Dylan Griffiths taking 3-35 and Cameron Billings 2-23. In reply, KCC only reached 51-7 in 13 overs before rain stopped play.

James Massey top-scored on 20 backed up by Sam Butler (17) and JJ Williams (7 no).

The U19s made a good start to their T20 Blast campaign on Sunday beating Redditch by 20 runs. Batting first they scored 116 – Sam Beadsworth top scoring on 45.

James Kinder then took four wickets and a fantastic running catch to secure victory.

This win followed a heavy defeat at the hands of Bromsgrove in the morning when Kidderminster were down to 10 men after a late drop out due to injury. The opposition racked up 202, with KCC collapsing to 55 all out.