KIDDERMINSTER Victoria CC enhanced their championship hopes in the Birmingham and District League Premier Division by beating in-form Kenilworth Wardens at home on Saturday.

The Chester Road side rose to second in the table in what is developing into an incredibly tight battle title battle, with the top five seperated by just ten points.

With leaders Knowle and Dorridge losing to Walsall, KVCC are now just a point behind them.

Craig Wood and James Ralph were the cornerstone of their victory as KVCC successfully chased down 258 for victory.

The visitor's opening batters, Elan Marillier and Alistair Wilkinson, scored runs off Ted Baylis, but Matt Pardoe proved more difficult to get away.

However, it was Baylis who struck first when he had Wilkinson caught by Mansell for six.

A change of bowling saw Imran Arif brought into the attack and in his first over he had Scott Stenning caught by Pardoe for seven.

Pardoe then put the pressure on Wardens with two wickets without a run scored. He had the experienced Shitansu Kotak caught by keeper Tom Sherriff and took a return catch off the next ball to send James Ord back to the pavilion.

Kenilworth were then reduced to 35-5 when Arif bowled Marillier for 11.

KVCC's opponents raised their game when Jason Young and Martin Donald forged a 203 run partnership in 41 overs.

But James Ralph stopped their momentum when he had Young caught by stand-in skipper Mark Mansell.

With the impetus lost, Kenilworth made 261-7, with Pardoe (7-2) the pick of the home side's bowlers.

KVCC got off to a strong start when the opening partnership of Matt Pardoe and Wood made 35 before Pardoe was caught by Marillier for nine.

Neil Pinner and Wood took the score up to 69, but Pinner was out caught by Stenning.

Together with Wood, Ralph turned the game in KVCC's favour as they guided them to 178.

Wood, who had carefully constructed his innings over 129 minutes, was ran out on 78 but KVCC maintained their momentum.

After Chris Pyke was bowled for two runs, the hosts needed 51 runs from 12 overs to win.

They suffered a set back when Ralph was denied a century when he was dismissed on 99 runs.

The home team lost Andy Siwicki (11) and Arif (0) but Baylis (24 not out) and Mark Mansell (eight not out) made sure KVCC made 261-7 in the 54th over.