Kidderminster’s title hopes have suffered a second blow in the space of a week after abandoning hopes of New Zealand paceman Kevin Forde joining their challenge.

The 23-year-old Kiwi’s visa application was turned down for a second time this week, effectively ending Forde’s hopes of returning to the club.

Captain Jonathan Wright cannot see why his side are having to do without their overseas star.

He said: “We’re baffled – it seems to make no sense to us in the great scheme of things. For what reason he has been denied we are still not entirely sure.

“But the end result is that Kevin won’t be joining us. It’s been very frustrating because he would have just given us that extra filip.”

Kidderminster’s frustration over the Forde issue will be compounded by their setback at Wolverhampton last week.

The home side pipped them in a thrilling game which went to the last over – and for which the winners enjoyed a man of the match performance from their own overseas star, Indian ex-Test all rounder Sairaj Bahutule.

This meeting of second versus third went to the wire, but Bahutule’s five wicket haul and then match-clinching knock at the finish sent Kidderminster to a two wicket defeat.

Wright said: “In the end, the difference between the two teams was a former Test player – which is just as it should be, I suppose.

“We ended up getting five points out of a game but felt we deserved a lot more.”

Nevertheless, Wright feels all the essential ingredients are in a well-balanced squad and Kidderminster now look to return to winning ways at Bromsgrove – fresh from their first ever victory at this level last weekend.

He said: “They’ve got three real quality batsmen at the top of order, ane one of whom can turn a game with a hundred.

“But we are playing good cricket and there is no reason why we should not be confident. We want to keep our chances high.”