CAPTAIN Matt Pardoe produced an all-round display as improving Kidderminster defeated county rivals Ombersley in the Birmingham League Premier.

Pardoe scored 77 runs and took five wickets in a match-winning display.

A spin-bowlers paradise that might have gone either way had Ombersley aiming for around 220 runs, but Kiddermister restricted them to 193-7.

KCC won the toss and invited Ombersley to bat and a opening stand of 68 by Liam Gwynne and Nicholas Hammond ended in the 17th over when keeper Tom Kimberlin stumped Gwynne (41) off Pardoe’s bowling.

The score stood at 112 before the second wicket fell, when Uday Kault (20) gave the captain another wicket thanks to a catch from Nathan Round.

Pardoe struck again, with Jonathan Wright taking the catch as Joshua Dell departed for a duck.

Hammond was in great form and had scored 64 when the combination of Pardoe and Kimberlin dismissed him.

Spin was proving pivotal with Neil Pinner and Wright keeping the score down. Pinner had Fred Wynne (2) lbw, and Oliver Uffindall (23) was caught by Gareth Williams off the bowling of Wright. It was left to Pardoe to claim his fifth wicket when Pinner caught former Kidderminster man Ted Baylis (14).

Chris Russell, Connor Smith and Mike Hill all bowled but had little success on a spinner’s wicket.

Craig Wood had injured his ankle while fielding, but opened with Pardoe with the aid of a runner.

Seventy runs came in the first 12 overs, but Wood (20) had struck two fours and a six before he was trapped leg before by Uffindall.

Wright and Pardoe put on 59 runs in around 12 overs before Wright (57) was caught by Baylis off the bowling of another ex-Kiddy player Neil Slade. Pardoe reached 77 when Slade had him caught and bowled.

Experienced spinner Matt Rawnsley gave his side hope of a win by dismissing Hill ((8), Nathan Round (4) and Smith (0). At 176-6 it looked as if Ombersley could have the upper hand, but Neil Pinner (33) and Liam Weston (11) took Kidderminster to victory with 11 overs to spare.

KCC are now in fourth and host West Bromwich Dartmouth on Vice Presidents Day (noon start) on Saturday.