KIDDERMINSTER Victoria maintained their excellent start to the Birmingham League Premier as they got the better of local rivals Ombersley.

The Chester Road side are joint top of the league after notching up a second win in a row.

Bowler Nathan Round and lead the way as his four wicket haul put KVCC on the front foot, while wicketkeeper Tom Kimberlin was also red hot behind the wickets.

KVCC had won the toss and asked the visitors to bat and they soon lost two wickets with only 13 runs on the board. Liam Gwynne (10) was out lbw to Connor Smith, and then Freddie Wynn (0) gave Smith his second wicket.

Ombersley got back into the game, reaching 52 before a third wicket fell. Ollie Uffindall (11) was caught by keeper Tom Kimberlin, bowled Michael Hill.

Udar Kaul was batting well, but, nearing his half century, gave Kimberlin another catch off the bowling of skipper Matt Pardoe. Kaul had scored 46, including five fours.

The score went from 111 to 119 when their fifth wicket fell. Nick Hammond (27 including five fours) gave a third catch to Kimberlin, with Nathan Round the bowler.

More wickets fell at 124, 126, and 133. Ted Baylis, a former Kidderminster player had scored one when Kimberlin took a fourth catch, giving Pardoe a second wicket.

Nathan Round then bowled Chris Harwood and Joseph Young, both having scored eight.

Pardoe had Arti Fiaz, the visitor’s captain, caught by Connor Smith as Ombersley were dismissed for 156.

Some outstanding bowling by Round gave him 4-33, while Pardoe took 3-20. Smith had good figures with 2-14 off 10 overs, with Hill taking 1-22.

At the tea break, the rain arrived, which meant KVCC were set a target of 135 in 35 overs, and reached it in 21.3.

The opening partnership of Pardoe and Ryan Derrick had only produced 17 runs when Derrick was caught Harwood, bowled Fiaz, for 3.

Pardoe, fresh from his 144 against Yorkshire 2nd XI for Leicestershire seconds, looked in good form, scoring freely. Regrettably he lost Hill (9) and Round both for nine.

Pardoe had scored 62 of the 117 runs scored, smashing seven fours and two sixes.

Jonathan Wright (2) was out leg before to Slade, with Andrew Siwicki not out on one, but Craig Wood, who made 29, took the team to a second league win.

The firsts face another huge weekend when they tackle Kenilworth Wardens away in the league on Saturday (noon start) and then go to in-form Barnt Green on Sunday in the Royal London Club Championship (1pm start).

Meanwhile, KVCC’s seconds enjoyed an eight-wicket win over Harborne in Birmingham.

The hosts were restricted to 180 as Andy Logan (5-29) and Charlie Stainforth (3-29) tied them up in knots.

Mark Fisher (31), Stainforth (29) and Lewis Stainforth (13) were all among the runs as KVCC eased to a convincing 183-2 in reply.