COMETH the hour, cometh the man! Kidderminster Victoria Cricket Club's first team finally clinched promotion in the last game of the season with a winning draw against rival contenders Smethwick at Chester Road, writes John Barrett.

It was always going to be a tough challenge to win the game or to secure enough bonus points in the event of a draw - and it was.

With the top three teams separated by just eight points, captain Jonathan Wright packed a calculator in his kit bag to cope with a host of possible mathematical permutations.

Yet again Wright won the toss and decided on a change of tactics. Faced with a clear day on a dry wicket he chose to bat with the intention of setting a challenging total and bowl out the opposition.

The team has played well in recent weeks but it had become clear that in a run chase the middle order batting struggled under pressure, hence the defeats against Water Orton and Harborne.

The bowlers and fielders, however, seemed to handle the pressure better and it came as no surprise that Wright put his faith in the team to bowl a side out rather than risk a run chase.

Overseas player Divan van Wyk opened the batting with Wright and the pair put on a good opening partnership, playing cautiously, searching for the singles without playing big expansive shots.

Looking particularly good, van Wyk played some wonderful cover drives and the partnership blossomed, putting on 70 runs in 20 overs before the South African was suddenly bowled by Hussain for a steady knock of 39.

Sean Lloyd joined his captain but after hitting two classy cover drives for four he too was bowled by Hussain for just eight.

Disaster then struck when Will Gifford went for a first ball duck when he was adjudged to have been caught behind down the leg side and Ted Baylis was clean bowled without troubling the scorers, both men victims of Hussain's impressive bowling.

The score was now 82-4 with Smethwick right on top of their game and putting enormous pressure on both batsmen and umpires alike.

It was not a place for the faint hearted and a level head was needed to overcome this difficult passage of play.

What a relief then for the home spectators to see the experienced Mark Mansell at the wicket with his captain. Wright and Mansell batted superbly to get KVCC back into the game with the skipper beginning to put in some big shots.

He reached his 50 and was looking good for a really big score but was tempted down the wicket to the spin bowling of Farooq and was comfortably stumped down the leg side.

The score was 133 for 5 and whilst a lot better, there was still much work to be done to achieve a challenging total. Andy Siwicki perished to a plum lbw at 135-6.

Craig Jennings then joined Mansell to get KVCC's promotion aspirations back on the rails.

Jennings played a superb innings and helped Mansell to put on 48 runs before Andy Bryan bowled Mansell for a priceless knock of 48.

Andy Morley (2) and Nigel Davenport (1) were both run out in pursuit of a bonus batting point and at 197-9 it seemed that the late order batsmen had lost the plot.

Phil Shaw joined Jennings at the crease with just two balls to go and three runs required to get a total of 200 for a vital batting point.

Shaw hit the first ball to leg for four and then hit the last ball also to leg for another four. This was a priceless moment, enabling the home side to achieve a vital bonus point in their total of 205-9.

Jennings stood firm on 29 no with a gem of an innings and reminded everyone that he could bat as well as bowl.

Hussain was the pick of the Smethwick bowlers, taking 4-46 off 19 overs.

The scene was now set for an exciting finale and it was not long before the home spectators had something to cheer. Jennings and Baylis opened the bowling and bowled as if their lives depended on it.

Both batsmen struggled against this pace attack and in just the fourth over Dhoolab (1) was caught by Davenport fielding at gully off the bowling of Baylis.

Jennings then clean bowled Jamiel (0) and the score was 2-2 - a terrific start for the home side. The score then became 13-3 when Ahmed (5) was caught by stand-in keeper van Wyk off the bowling of Baylis.

Mahmood (12) soon followed also to the impressive bowling of Baylis.

Before Smethwick could settle, Mansell was brought into the attack and immediately accounted for the wicket of Kirnon splendidly caught by Jennings on the boundary.

This was followed by the wicket of Nazir (15), brilliantly caught by Mansell at slip off the bowling of Wright.

Smethwick had now slumped to 57- 6 and all hopes of a victory for the visitors had gone.

The calculator now came into play as Smethwick's experienced captain David Banks began a rescue operation in search of the required batting bonus points to give his side promotion.

Wright knew that bonus points were available at seven wickets down and hopefully nine wickets down.

The tension rose as Banks dug in with a masterful innings assisted by Farooq.

It seemed that the visitors might just get their required points as they steadily put a stand together, easing their way to a bonus batting point.

Wright re-introduced Jennings back into the attack for one last blast.

Jennings had suffered a slight injury earlier in his first spell but all hopes now rested on him to give KVCC the necessary bowling points. Jennings responded superbly by clean bowling Farooq (26).

The defining moment of the day soon followed when Banks attempted a big hit in the 54th over to the leg side boundary, only to see Baylis take an outstanding catch in the deep.

The score was now 133-7 and the wicket of Banks gave KVCC the necessary batting bonus point to put them one point ahead of Smethwick in the league table.

Jonathan Wright now knew that his side had done everything possible without winning the game.

Smethwick's score closed on 139-9 at the end of the 55th over and KVCC had achieved a remarkable winning draw.

Was it enough? News reached everyone of the result at Shrewsbury as they suffered a losing draw to Sutton Coldfield.

Yes, it is now confirmed - KVCC's 1st X1 have been promoted to the Birmingham & District Premier League's Premier Division. Objective achieved. Now the real work begins!

Result: KVCC 205-9, Smethwick 136-9. KVCC winning draw. KVCC (15 points), Smethwick (7 points).

l While the first team were celebrating, the seconds were drowning their sorrows after their hopes of retaining their 2nd XI Premier Division title were ended with defeat at Leamington Spa.

Result: Leamington 261-6, KVCC 180.