Express & Star

Victoria lead the way in the Premier Division

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Captain Matt Pardoe led from the front as Kidderminster Victoria continued their unblemished start to the Birmingham & District League Premier Division.

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Pardoe took 2-41 to help dismiss the hosts for 200 before adding an unbeaten 125 from 110 balls, an innings that included 17 fours and three sixes, to help see them home by eight wickets at Dorridge.

Home wicketkeeper Joe Dodd, who was promoted to open the innings, had earlier top scored with 95, a knock that included six fours and three sixes.

But the rest of the fragile Dorridge batting order was blown away by Jonathan Wright (4-35), Connor Smith (4-38) and Pardoe.

Valeed Butt (21), Ben Clarke (18), Nathan Myers (16) and Craig Kirsten (21no) all added double figures for the home side.

But Mohammed Ishtiaq (4), David Ball (0), Luke Jones (8), Ali Ebad (0), Matt Salmons (2) and Mahroof Azam (0) all perished cheaply at the hands of a blistering Kidderminster bowling attack.

Pardoe and Nathan Round (50no) came together with the visitors' score on 39 and an unbeaten stand of 164 saw Kidderminster clinch victory in the 36th over of their reply.

Bowler Danny Smith.

Andrew Kimberlin (7) and Mike Hill (4) had earlier fallen early to deliveries from David Ball and Craig Kirsten respectively, but it mattered little as the home side won at a canter.

Saturday saw the start of the 55 over stage of the season, which begins and ends with a 50 over format, but Kidderminster looked totally undaunted as their fine form continued.

That triumph made it six wins from six in the campaign so far, leaving them 13 points clear of second placed Berkswell, who crushed bottom-of-the-table Wolverhampton by nine wickets.

They dismissed the visitors for just 88 as only Ross Aucott (26) and Matthew Kleinveldt (19) made it to double figures.

Australian seamer Dan Worrall bowled unchanged to finish with an excellent 7-43 for the hosts.

And it took Berkswell just 8.2 overs to reach their target for the loss of Mark Best (16) with former Glamorgan all-rounder Nick James unbeaten on 54 from 32 balls, including eight fours and two sixes.

West Bromwich Dartmouth captain Kadeer Ali played a starring role to guide his team back to winning ways at the expense of Knowle & Dorridge who were bowled out for 192.

Dom Harding (59) and Chris Kenny (34) were the best batsmen for Knowle, who had no answer to Ali (6-48).

And he compiled an unbeaten 116 from 128 balls to lead his side to a seven-wicket win with the help of 46 from Brinder Phagura.

Meanwhile, Brewood claimed their first win of the Division Two campaign with a four-wicket win at home to Shifnal.

The visitors made 245-6, but Cameron Fox (71no) and Bruce Thomason (54) helped the hosts to victory.

Stourbridge have replaced them at the bottom following a losing draw at Halesowen in which Wes Griffiths (93 not out) starred for the hosts.

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Previously-unbeaten Penkridge lost to Old Elizabethans by 25 runs. OEs made 212 all out and at 139-2 Attiq Chishti's dismissal for 43 sparked a middle and late-order collapse to 187 all out.

Wombourne also suffered the same fate in a 29-run defeat to Tamworth, for whom Dean Van Deventer (7-26) took four wickets in consecutive balls.

Cannock & Rugeley Hawks have replaced Aston Manor at the Division Three summit following a 96-run win over Kings Heath and Manor's 207-run defeat to Fordhouses.

Mubeen Rasid hit 79 in a Hawks total of 251 before Omar Ali took 4-53. Niall Cooper, with 146 from 119 balls, starred for Fordhouses as they made 346-8.

In the local derby, Pelsall's 221-9 was followed by 205-9 for Streetly as the teams played out a draw.

In Division One, Old Hill knocked early leaders Barnards Green off the summit with a five-wicket win thanks to Hamza Ahmed (56 not out) and Jimmy Howell (40).

Walsall suffered a four-wicket defeat to Leamington Spa, while Smethwick lost to Moseley and Himley claimed a first win of the season.

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