KIDDERMINSTER extended their unbeaten run to seven games in the Birmingham Premier with a seven-wicket home win over Knowle and Dorridge last Saturday.

The hosts elected to field after winning the toss in their rain-affected match and Knowle lost their first two wickets for 69 inside 14 overs.

Chris Russell (1-34) made the first breakthrough by having Jonathan Webb (16) caught by Neil Pinner.

Michael Hill (2-28) then found the edge of Beau Webster (15), caught by keeper Tom Kimberlin , before having Sam Reddish (15) caught by Matt Pardoe to leave the visitors on 91-3.

Opener Alex Phillips cracked 10 fours in his 61 before nicking Liam Weston through to Kimberlin, and 117-4 soon became 117-5 when the Kimberlin/Weston combination struck again to dismiss Jack Grundy first ball.

The score rose to 133 by the 31st over when the sixth wicket fell. Dominic Harding (13) was caught and bowled by Pinner (2-49), who used the same mode of dismissal to remove Ben Brookes (9).

Tom Smith, who cracked six fours and one six in his unbeaten 61, and scored a very good 61 not out, which included six fours and a six, while Henry Brookes (8no) helped Knowle and Dorridge up to 223-7 off their 40 overs.

In reply, Kidderminster openers Craig Wood and Andy Kimberlin (11) put on 53 for the first wicket before the latter was caught on the boundary off the bowling of Grundy (1-39).

Skipper Pardoe then joined Wood with 240 runs the target.

A partnership of 149 was reached in 24 overs, amazingly both men scored 91 and both struck 12 fours. It ended when Wood was caught by Webb off Webber (1-52).

Last week’s top-scorer Michael Hill (1) was then run out after only facing five balls, with Kidderminster 33 runs short of the target.

Neil Pinner came in at number five and scored 21 not out, while skipper Pardoe— fresh from leading Herefordshire against Wales in midweek — led his side home to a seven-wicket win which takes them to third in the Birmingham League Premier Division.

They make the short trip to mid-table Barnt Green on Saturday (noon start) before travelling to third-from-bottom Walsall on Bank Holiday Monday. They play again at Walsall on September 4 in the Wilkinson Trophy final.