KIDDERMINSTER Victoria slipped to fifth in the Birmingham and District League Premier Division after two disappointing results over the Bank Holiday weekend.

The Chester Road side suffered their first league loss of the season when they were stunned by Walmley and suffered a nine-wicket defeat on Saturday. Two days later, KVCC produced a much-improved display at home to Knowle and Dorridge but could only manage a losing draw.

On Saturday, KVCC won the toss but paid the price for deciding to bat as they were given a tough time by Walmley’s strike bowling duo of Greg Rickets and Tim Gruitjers on a helpful playing surface.

Openers James Ralph and Matt Pardoe found runs hard to come by and Pardoe had failed to score when he was trapped LBW to Ricketts.

Ralph was showing his experience by exercising caution and when joined by Neil Pinner looked more comfortable.

This took the score up to 29 in the 13th over when Pinner, having scored 14, put up a simple catch to Brocklebank that gave Ricketts his second wicket. Then came a succession of batsmen who failed to score. Craig Wood was caught by Chris Booth, then skipper Jonathan Wright was caught by Bavik Patel off Ricketts’ delivery.

Ricketts was in full flight and bagged his fifth scalp when he bowled Siwicki.

KVCC’S innings lay in tatters at 36-5 after 19 overs. Ralph was still battling and when Ted Baylis joined him there was hope that some order may have been restored.

However, having scored two, Baylis recklessly called for a run, leaving Ralph stranded.

His 17 runs had lasted 22 overs and displayed some of the caution his team-mates might have shown.

Baylis was next man out when he was caught by Mohammed for two, while Mark Mansell was caught (3) and Imran Arif (3) was also dismissed by Mohammed.

The last two batsmen, keeper Jon Smith and Arfan Khan, did not survive for long.

Smith had scored six runs but Khan had an unlucky LBW decision and was out for a duck as KVCC slumped to 61 all out.

KVCC needed to start well in order to salvage some points and hopes were raised when Imran Arif clean bowled Mohammed Usman with the first ball.

Then, with only 14 runs to their name, Walmley lost their second wicket. Chris Howell (8) was caught in spectacular fashion by Mark Mansell after being bowled by Arif.

But that was the end of KVCC’s hopes. A solid partnership of 51 between Bavik Patel (29) and Chris Booth (21) guided Walmley to 65-2.

At Chester Road on Monday, KVCC showed more fight and the good form from the season’s opening fixtures but could not get the better of pacesetters Knowle.

The home side won the toss and put the visitors into bat first and made an early breakthrough when David Smith was caught by Wood off Baylis.

Khan had Luke Parker caught by Pinner, while Imran Arif caught Alec Baker.

A fourth wicket stand produced 32 runs before Arif bowled Nick James for 18.

KVCC continued to bowl steadily but Knowle reached 132 when Mansell’s tight bowling removed the wicket of Attiq Chishti.

The visitors added two more runs when Chris Kenny (20) was caught by Baylis and bowled by Wright. KVCC’s opponents were on 134-6 after 46 overs and then lost Will Mottram for three runs, before fighting back to 203.

However, the away side replied when Tom McNellie smashed 60 not out off 43 balls as Knowle ended on 213-8.

The home side’s reply was stalled when Wood and Pardoe were bowled early on.

Pinner tried to get the hosts back on track but only lasted 26 minutes before being caught by Davidson as KVCC slumped to 45-3.

James Ralph and Wright guided their side to 90, but the wickets kept tumbling.

Siwicki (17) and Baylis (2) went cheaply, as Ralph began to run out of partners.

Arif was dismissed for one, while Ralph’s battling innings finished on 73. Smith and Mansell then held on as KVCC reached 185-8 in the 55th over to earn a share of the points.

KVCC take on struggling Shrewsbury at home in the league on Saturday (12pm start).