KIDDERMINSTER Victoria CC's poor run of form in the Birmingham and District League Premier Division continued with a seven-wicket home loss at the hands of resurgent Himley on Saturday.

The Chester Road side will be glad to see the back of a winless June, which has seen the team's form dip since the draw against Walsall.

On Saturday under strength KVCC were unable to hit a big enough score to trouble Himley and lost opening batsmen Ted Baylis and Joshua Knappett for five runs.

Baylis did not offer a stroke to Worcestershire quick bowler Chris Whelan and was bowled for a duck. Knappett started well with a boundary off Tim Heap, who then bowled him.

Craig Wood and Neil Pinner gave KVCC some confidence, taking the score to 63, when Wood was trapped lbw by Stuart Wedge for 18.

Only five runs had been added when Heap had Pinner caught by Tejinder Pal Singh for 41, ending an innings which had included eight boundaries.

KVCC captain Jonathan Wright was bowled for eight runs when Wedge had him caught by Daniel Bassett.

The hosts had made 89-5 in 24 overs but the loss of three wickets in 16 overs for 27 runs severely hampered their fight back.

Mark Mansell (12) and Paul Mitchell (13) tried to relieve the pressure before they were both dismissed.

Gomez Vincent, who was drafted in from the second team, braved some very hostile bowling by Whelan and survived for 25 balls, before being bowled for a duck.

Another second-team player, Andrew Kimberlin, batted patiently, using the overs up and lasted 53 minutes and 40 balls for his six runs.

At 131-9 KVCC were already staring defeat in the face but tail enders Mario Saliwa and Arfan Khan added 32 runs in a defiant last-wicket partnership.

Khan, who had batted cautiously, was last man out for 11 when he was caught and bowled by T P Singh, ending an innings that had lasted 39 minutes and 21 balls.

Saliwa received a good reception from the crowd as he finished unbeaten on 30. His innings had lasted 39 minutes and the South African struck two fours and a six as KVCC finished on 164-3.

The hope was that paceman Saliwa had found the form had that had made him one of the most effective bowlers at the start of the season but he could not reprise it and his eight overs cost KVCC 63 runs.

Khan bowled with discipline and only conceded 43 runs for in 11 overs, removing Himley batsmen Bassett (0) and Nitesh Patel (22).

But it was Himley's TP Singh who caught the eye as his 98, struck in 91 minutes, set the visitors on course for a vital victory, before he was caught by wicketkeeper Knappett off Mansell's delivery.

KVCC's opponents had made reached 129-3, before Greg Wright (23 not out) and Mike Hill (nine not out) ensured that there was no chance of a late fight back by the hosts as Himley made 164-3 in reply.